Georgia man convicted in fraud case that targeted New Hampshire banks

CONCORD - A Georgia man was convicted Friday for bank fraud conspiracy and identity theft after a five-day trial.

Lestor Aceituno, 40, of Atlanta, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft.

"The swift verdict by the jury sends a clear message to fraudsters like the defendant that these crimes will be prosecuted and will result in convictions," said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. "This office and our law enforcement partners will continue to investigate those that brazenly steal and use other identities for their personal gain."

Between June of 2016 and October of 2017, Aceituno and others used stolen identities to open accounts at banks in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Georgia. Aceituno opened or accessed post office boxes in Massachusetts and Georgia to receive debit cards and pin numbers to access these accounts. Aceituno's co-conspirators then deposited fraudulent checks totaling more than $119,000, according to a release from the state's U.S. Attorneys Office.

After the money was credited to the accounts, but before the bank determined the checks were false, one of Aceituno's co-conspirators withdrew the money and gave it to another co-conspirator, the leader of the scheme.

The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 30 years in prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and a mandatory consecutive 2-year sentence for aggravated identity theft. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.