Law Firm Employee Indicted on Fraud, Identity Theft, False Statment, Money Laundering, and Other Charges
U.S. Attorney’s Office May 20, 2010 |
PHILADELPHIA—Bonnie Sweeten was charged today in a 23-count indictment with wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, misuse of passport, use of forged or altered passport, false statement to a federal official, money laundering, and engaging in monetary transactions in the proceeds of fraud, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. The indictment alleges that Sweeten, while employed at a law office, stole in excess of $700,000 from clients, the law office, and co-workers. The indictment further alleges that Sweeten fabricated numerous documents, including a court order, an assignment of bail, a power of attorney, and e-mails, altered identification documents, including a driver’s license and a United States passport, forged signatures of others, and even assumed the identity of others throughout her criminal conduct. According to the indictment, Sweeten spent the stolen funds on clothing, jewelry, entertainment, restaurants, furniture, electronics, mortgage payments for her home, and more.
“As the indictment alleges, this defendant went to great lengths to defraud people who trusted her,” said Memeger. “She betrayed family members, her employer, her friends, and the general public.”
INFORMATION REGARDING THE DEFENDANT
NAME | ADDRESS | YEAR OF BIRTH |
Bonnie Sweeten a/k/a “Bonnie Siner” a/k/a “Bonnie Rakoczy” |
Pennsylvania | 1971 |
If convicted of all charges, Sweeten faces a maximum possible sentence of 375 years in prison, including a two-year mandatory minimum, five years’ supervised release, a fine of up to $6.75 million, a $2,300 special assessment, and full restitution.
This case was jointly investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Denise S. Wolf.
An Indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.