Charleston, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Lecelle Montgomery, age 32, of Bluffton, S.C., pled guilty in federal court in Charleston, to Bank Fraud, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344. United States District Judge Richard Gergel, of Charleston, accepted the plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. Montgomery faces up to thirty years in federal prison.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that beginning in or about 2008 and continuing up to at least in or around late 2012, Montgomery, a former financial adviser, began receiving funds from individuals living in the Bluffton area of South Carolina, ostensibly to invest on their behalf. Instead of investing the money, however, Montgomery admitted to spending it to either gamble or use it for personal expenses.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Matt Austin of the Charleston office handled the case. ##
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
