Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that MARIA SPEARS, a/k/a MARIA BAQUEDANO, 52, of Kenner, was sentenced today after previously pleading guilty to defrauding Gulf Coast Bank and Trust in connection with writing fraudulent checks.
U.S. District Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt sentenced SPEARS to 36 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release. A hearing to determine the restitution amount is scheduled for Dec. 20, 2017.
SPEARS pled guilty to a one-count Bill of Information charging her with Bank Larceny. According to court documents, SPEARS opened a checking account at Gulf Coast Bank and Trust, in the Eastern District of Louisiana. This account was closed in 2011 and contained no funds at the times Spears issued the checks. The deposits of Gulf Coast Bank and Trust were insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. (“FDIC") when Spears wrote the fraudulent checks.
From on or about June 6, 2015 until on or about March 26 2016, SPEARS wrote approximately $357,000 of bad checks. Each time a check was presented, the bank declined to release the funds as the account had been closed since 2011.
On June 26, 2015, SPEARS issued a check in Jefferson Parish in the amount of $5,000 to Party “A", in order to purchase real estate in Kenner.
On Dec. 12, 2015, SPEARS purchased a 2016 Chevrolet Corvette in Jefferson Parish from Dealer “A" with a check for $80,390.29 from the closed account.
On March 5, 2016, SPEARS purchased a 2016 Nissan GTR in Jefferson Parish from Dealer “B" with a check for $130,675 from the closed account.
On March 21, 2016, SPEARS purchased a 2016 Cadillac Escalade Premium in Jefferson Parish from Dealer “C" with a check for $97,590.75 from the closed account.
On March 26, 2016 in Tangipahoa Parish, SPEARS purchased a 2016 Nissan 370Z from Dealer “D" with a check for $44,000 from the closed account.
SPEARS was on supervised release for another federal offense when she committed this crime. On December 6, 2012, SPEARS was sentenced to serve 21 months imprisonment for wire fraud in the Middle District of Louisiana. She was ordered to pay $176,267.96 in restitution and was placed on three years supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the U.S. Probation Service in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K. D. Guice, Jr. of the Fraud Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
