Colorado Man Indicted for Bank Fraud
| U.S. Attorney’s Office January 12, 2012 |
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Colorado man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly falsifying his employment status on a bank loan application and thereafter receiving funds.
Benjamin Artichoker, age 54, was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 20, 2011, for Bank Fraud. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on January 4, 2012, and pled not guilty to the indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 30 years’ imprisonment and/or a $1,000,000 fine. The charge is merely an accusation, and Artichoker is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins is prosecuting the case. Artichoker was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not yet been set.