Sixth Honduran National Sentenced to Prison for His Role in a Bank Fraud Conspiracy

HAMMOND - Rosalio Pena Sandres, 45 years old, of Luquigue, Honduras, is the latest Honduran national to be sentenced to prison for his role in an expansive bank fraud conspiracy resulting in significant losses to small businesses and community banks in more than a dozen states, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.

Pena Sandres was sentenced to 33 months in prison followed by 1 year of supervised release after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of illegal re-entry. He was also ordered to pay $533,043 in restitution to the victims of his crimes. The sentence was imposed by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon at a hearing held on June 18, 2026.

"Rosalio Pena Sandres will spend 33 months in prison because he and his co-conspirators used fake identification cards to cash 169 fraudulent paychecks totaling $233,569 at three branches of the same bank in the Northern District of Indiana on January 11, 2023. The fraudulent paychecks were designed to look like they had been issued by a company that operates dairy farms in the Northern District of Indiana. Almost six months later, on June 23, 2023, Pena Sandres and his co-conspirators used fake identification cards to cash 178 fraudulent paychecks totaling $299,474 at five branches of the same bank and three check cashing businesses in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The fraudulent paychecks were designed to look like they had been issued by a building materials supply company in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. As he has no legal no legal status within the United States, he will be subject to a separate and immediate removal process upon release from prison. Thanks to the combined efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Secret Service, and the Indiana State Police, with valuable assistance provided by the Benton County (Indiana) Sheriff's Department, the Benton County (Indiana) Prosecutor's Office, the Poteau (Oklahoma) Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Travis County (Texas) Sheriff's Office, the Houston (Texas) Police Department, the Nebraska State Police, and the Stanton County (Nebraska) Sheriff's Office, the case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Steven J. Lupa from the Northern District of Indiana and Assistant United States Attorneys Kara Traster and Jordan Howanitz from the Eastern District of Oklahoma," said U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred.

"The economic impact of these fraud schemes damages the well-being and quality of life in these communities," said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino. "Small businesses are the backbone of our country. I'm proud of our agents and law enforcement partners for disrupting the fraud scheme and ensuring that the individuals involved were held accountable for their criminal actions."

"The sentencing of another member of this fraud conspiracy sends a clear message that those who target American businesses and financial institutions will be identified, investigated, and prosecuted," said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O'Malley. "The FBI remains committed to working with our partners to protect the integrity of our financial system and hold offenders accountable."

"Indiana State Police remains committed to working diligently with our federal and local law enforcement partners to investigate complex criminal organizations that victimize businesses and communities. This case, involving a multi-state bank fraud conspiracy that resulted in significant financial losses, is a testament to the strong partnerships and coordinated efforts that help bring offenders to justice and protect the public," said Sgt. Jeremy Piers, Indiana State Police.

Five co-conspirators were previously sentenced to prison for their roles in this scheme: Luis Banegas Rodriguez (27 months), Ricardo Castro Murillo (37 months), Carlos Aquino Sosa (41 months), Edwin Palacios Sosa (27 months), and Delvin Velasquez Romero (time served of approximately 17 months).

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Secret Service, and the Indiana State Police, with valuable assistance provided by the Benton County (Indiana) Sheriff's Department, the Benton County (Indiana) Prosecutor's Office, the Poteau (Oklahoma) Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Travis County (Texas) Sheriff's Office, the Houston (Texas) Police Department, the Nebraska State Police, and the Stanton County (Nebraska) Sheriff's Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Steven J. Lupa from the Northern District of Indiana and Assistant United States Attorneys Kara Traster and Jordan Howanitz from the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Indianapolis comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, IRS, Indiana State Police, and other partners, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney's Offices for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana.