PITTSBURGH - A resident of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, has pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of fraud conspiracy, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
Duane Jackson, 30, of Pittsburgh, Pa., pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge David S. Cercone.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Jackson and his conspirators agreed to defraud account holders at Pittsburgh area banks by a remote deposit, mobile-banking scheme in which Jackson and conspirators deposited fictitious checks into victim accounts, and later withdrew cash at the Rivers Casino and ATMs.
Judge Cercone scheduled the sentencing for Feb. 17, 2016, at 1 p.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 30 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Western Pennsylvania Financial Crimes Task Force (WPFCTF), conducted the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Jackson. The WPFCTF was established as a collaborative, multi-agency effort to effectively combat financial crimes, including identity fraud, in Western Pennsylvania. Partners in this effort are the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, the Department of Homeland Security, the United States Secret Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office, the Allegheny County Police Department, the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the Pennsylvania State Police.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
