Eighth Member of Reading-Area Bank Fraud Ring Charged

PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain announced today that a Reading, Pennsylvania woman—the eighth member of a Reading-area bank fraud ring—has been charged with fraud.

A criminal information has been filed charging, Xavanna Olivera, 19, with one count of bank fraud. Olivera is alleged to be a member of a bank fraud ring operated by Steven Ronald Randall of Philadelphia.

Randall previously pleaded guilty on March 15, 2018, to one count of bank fraud and five counts of aggravated identity theft before U.S. District Judge Joseph F. Leeson, Jr. As part of his guilty plea, Randall admitted that he was a leader of a scheme to defraud First National Bank. Randall further admitted that as a result of this scheme, FNB sustained actual losses in excess of $76,519, with intended losses of in excess of $115,782. Randall also admitted that he transferred funds to inmates incarcerated within the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections via accounts opened by others involved in the scheme.

The information alleges that in return for a share of the fraud proceeds, Olivera opened an account at FNB that she knew would be used to deposit fraudulent checks and to withdraw cash before the bank discovered that the checks were fraudulent.

Olivera faces a maximum sentence of 30 years’ incarceration, a five-year period of supervised release, and a fine of $1,000,000.

Olivera is the eighth member charged as part of this group. In addition to Olivera and Randall, the other members of the bank fraud ring previously charged are Jaylen Jefferson, 19, of Reading, Dawson Thomas, 19, of Mohnton, Rebecca Ilie, 25, of Reading, Linda Pacheco, 40, of Reading, Angel Ocasio, Jr., 20, of Reading, and Jair Peralta, 19, of Kenhorst.

The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Cumru Township Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael S. Lowe.

An indictment or information is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.