Ali M. Summers Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois
A federal judge in Benton, Illinois, has sentenced Valentino Colic, a 34-year-old man from St. Louis, to over 12 years in prison for participating in a fraudulent scheme involving counterfeit cashier's checks. Colic was involved in deceiving private vehicle sellers across various counties in Illinois. The scheme, which spanned from 2018 to August 2023, caused losses amounting to approximately $1.7 million.
Colic's charges included conspiracy to commit wire fraud, multiple counts of wire fraud, interstate transport of fraudulently taken property, and aggravated identity theft. His prison term will be followed by three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft emphasized the importance of validating checks from unfamiliar sources to avoid such frauds, stating, “Criminals are skilled at creating fake checks to look real and defraud victims."
Other individuals involved, including Alen Saric, Almir Palic, and Emad Hasanbegovic, have also faced charges. Saric, who admitted guilt earlier this year, is awaiting sentencing, while Palic has already received a sentence of 51 months. Hasanbegovic's hearing is slated for May.
The fraudulent activity involved targeting vehicle sellers on platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist using checks mimicking legitimate bank checks but bearing fake routing numbers. Once a vehicle was secured under false pretenses, it was resold for cash, often before the initial check was discovered to be bogus. The scheme further involved using prior victims' information to disguise the identities of the perpetrators.
FBI Springfield's Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson commented on the operation, praising inter-agency cooperation: "This investigation is a testament to the strength of collaboration across local, state, and federal law enforcement.”
The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the FBI Springfield Field Office, Metro East Auto Theft Task Force, and several state and local police departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter T. Reed led the prosecution.
This case illustrates the complex nature of financial fraud and the coordinated efforts required to hold those responsible accountable.
