Final defendant sentenced in interstate bank fraud conspiracy

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Edward Richardson, 33, of the Bronx, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, was sentenced to serve 42 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.

In January 2025, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, co-conspirator Vance Ashley was recruited by members of the conspiracy, including Richardson, Edwin Robles and Michael Herrera, to pose as other persons and make unauthorized withdrawals from the other persons' bank accounts. Ashley agreed to do this in exchange for money. Between January 28 and February 3, 2025, Ashley drove with Richardson, Robles, and Herrera, to bank branches in Wilmington, Delaware, Liberty, NY, and Lock Haven, PA, where Ashely used the identifications of other individuals to make, or attempt to make, unauthorized withdrawals from the victims' bank accounts.

On February 5, 2025, the defendants drove to a Northwest Bank branch in Lockport, within the Western District of New York. Ashley made an unauthorized withdrawal of from the account of an individual residing in Erie, PA. Ashley also purchased a bank check using funds from the account. That same day, the defendants drove to another Northwest Bank branch in Williamsville, within the Western District of New York, and again Ashley made an unauthorized withdrawal from an account and purchased a bank check using funds from the account of a victim from North East PA. Also on February 5, 2025, Richardson illegally used the identification of another person during the commission of a felony.

The total loss amount, including actual loss and intended loss, is $91,300.00.

Herrera, Robles and Ashley were previously convicted and sentenced.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Bonanno. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Harry Chavis and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone.

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