Ali M. Summers Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois
A St. Louis man, Alen Saric, has been sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for his role in a vehicle sale fraud scheme that affected victims across several Illinois counties. Saric, aged 36, had previously pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
The scheme involved the use of fake cashier’s checks to defraud private vehicle sellers on platforms such as Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist from 2018 until August 2023. The checks appeared legitimate but contained fake routing numbers, allowing the conspirators to obtain vehicles fraudulently and resell them for cash before the original sellers realized they had been deceived.
Saric's co-conspirators include Valentino Colic, who received a 145-month sentence, and Almir Palic, sentenced to 51 months. Both men were also ordered to pay over $1 million in restitution alongside Saric. Another alleged participant, Emad Hasanbegovic, faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and identity theft and is scheduled for a court appearance on May 21.
U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft emphasized the importance of verifying checks from unknown sources by consulting with issuing banks or ensuring funds are deposited before transferring property or money.
FBI Springfield Special Agent Christopher Johnson highlighted the collaborative efforts among various law enforcement agencies that led to these convictions: "This investigation is a testament to the strength of collaboration across local, state, and federal law enforcement."
The fraudulent activities extended beyond acquiring vehicles under false pretenses; the perpetrators also used previous victims' identities to forge documents necessary for selling these vehicles. This practice further victimized individuals by involving them unknowingly in additional fraudulent transactions.
The investigation was supported by multiple law enforcement entities including the FBI Springfield Field Office, Metro East Auto Theft Task Force, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Illinois State Police, Illinois Secretary of State Police, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department in Missouri, and other local police departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter T. Reed is leading the prosecution.
