Co-Conspirator Sentenced in Multi-Million Bank Fraud Scheme

HOUSTON – A Houston-area man has been ordered to federal prison for perpetrating a scheme that caused a loss of more than $4 million to several local banks, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Gregory Roberson, 65, of Missouri City, pleaded guilty June 14, 2016.

Today, U.S. District Judge Gray Miller, who accepted the guilty plea, handed Roberson a 24-month sentence and ordered him to pay $3,081,942.14. The ringleader of the scheme, Andre Chenier, 44, of Houston, had previously been sentenced to 48 months in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $4.5 million in restitution. Both will also serve three years of supervised release following completion of their sentences. 

From 2004 to 2012, Chenier obtained multi-million dollar commercial loans from several Houston-area banks by submitting false and fraudulent documents, including Bank of Texas and Third Coast Bank. The loan applications included falsified financial statements and fake income tax returns and were obtained using the Social Security numbers of identity theft victims. Chenier ultimately defaulted on both of these loans and others, resulting in a loss of $4,581,942. Chenier represented to banks that he owned various technology companies, when in fact the companies were fictitious and Chenier was merely living off loan proceeds.     

Roberson assisted Chenier in the scheme by preparing falsified income tax forms and other documents to help Chenier obtain millions in commercial loans.

He was permitted to remain on bond pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The FBI, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General and IRS – Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Belinda Beek is prosecuting the case.