Warren Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Defraud Banks
| U.S. Attorney’s Office January 18, 2011 |
ERIE, PA—A resident of Warren, Pennsylvania pled guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
Joshua Z. Atwell, 23, pled guilty to one count before Senior United States District Judge Maurice B. Cohill, Jr.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Atwell and a co-defendant conspired to defraud financial institutions on numerous occasions throughout the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Judge Cohill scheduled sentencing for May 2, 2011, at 10:00 a.m The law provides for a total sentence of 30 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court continued Atwell on bond.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Atwell.