Two Men Sentenced For Their Roles In Identity Theft Scams

CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Jeriel Slay, 29, of Brooklyn, NY, and co-defendant Sirr Wright, 44, of Norfolk, VA, who were each convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, were sentenced to serve 112 months and 48 months in prison respectively by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan P. Cantil, who handled the case, stated that between December 2016 and September 2018, the defendants conspired with Angela Slay, Michael Wright, and others to defraud multiple victims.

As a part of their scheme, Jeriel and Angela Slay, who are siblings, stole the identities of unsuspecting individuals and created fictitious Limited Liability Companies (LLCs), with company names indicating ownership by the victims. The defendants then opened bank accounts under the names of the LLCs and fraudulently transferred money from a victim’s actual bank account to the LLC bank account.  

Specifically, on December 14, 2016, Jeriel Slay fraudulently obtained Victim 1’s personally identifying information from the internet and opened a bank account in Victim 1’s name. Jeriel Slay then contacted Victim 1’s legitimate financial institution and transferred money via wire transfer from Victim 1’s legitimate account to the fraudulent bank account. Jeriel Slay, using device-making equipment, then created fraudulent driver’s licenses, fraudulent utility bills, and other identification documents in the name of Victim 1. The fraudulent driver’s license had Victim 1’s information but Sirr Wright’s image on the card. Using these fraudulent identification documents, Wright went to the bank that serviced the fraudulent Victim 1 bank account and withdrew the funds from that fraudulent account, totaling $65,960.

All defendants have been convicted in this case.

The sentencings are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Buffalo Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert.

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