Alamdar Hamdani U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas
A Newark man has been sentenced to federal prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced that Cory Scott Becker, 41, received a 36-month prison term from U.S. District Judge David S. Morales after pleading guilty on October 24, 2024.
During the sentencing hearing, the court reviewed additional evidence regarding Becker's role and the scheme to steal funds using victims' Social Security numbers. Other individuals involved in the conspiracy include Christopher Carr, Joseph Aguilar, and Emmett Jimenez. Carr, aged 37 from Corpus Christi, was sentenced to 12 months and a day in prison. Aguilar, also 37 and from Corpus Christi, received a 12-month sentence while Jimenez, aged 45 from Yoakum, was sentenced to 18 months.
The investigation began when a complainant reported $30,000 missing from her account at a credit union in Corpus Christi. The bank's risk management team discovered that between February 16 and March 8 of 2022, there were 44 unauthorized transactions affecting approximately 18 accounts.
Law enforcement officials interviewed account holders and confirmed these unauthorized withdrawals were made through an interactive teller machine using Social Security numbers and bank account details of the victims.
Authorities identified Becker along with Carr, Aguilar, and Jimenez as conspirators who used this information to illegally withdraw funds from credit union accounts.
Becker is allowed to remain on bond until he is transferred to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility soon.
The FBI led the investigation with support from the Corpus Christi Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Liesel Roscher prosecuted the case.
