A Bronx resident, Michael Herrera, has pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo in Buffalo, New York.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Bonanno, the case centers on a scheme that began in January 2025 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Vance Ashley, identified as a co-conspirator, was recruited by others involved in the conspiracy to impersonate individuals and withdraw funds from their bank accounts without authorization. In exchange for his participation, Ashley received payment.
Between January 28 and February 3, 2025, Ashley traveled with Herrera and two other associates to various bank branches located in Wilmington, Delaware; Liberty, New York; and Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. During these trips, Ashley used stolen identifications to make or attempt unauthorized withdrawals from victims’ accounts.
On February 5, 2025, the group went to a Northwest Bank branch in Lockport within the Western District of New York. There, Ashley withdrew money from an account belonging to a resident of Erie, Pennsylvania and used those funds to purchase a bank check. Later that day at another Northwest Bank branch in Williamsville—also within the Western District of New York—Ashley repeated this process using an account belonging to a victim from North East Pennsylvania. Additionally on February 5th, Herrera unlawfully used someone else’s identification while committing a felony.
The total loss resulting from both actual and attempted withdrawals is $91,300.
Ashley has already been convicted and is awaiting sentencing.
U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo credited the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division led by Special Agent-in-Charge Harry Chavis and Homeland Security Investigations under Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan for their roles in investigating the case.
Sentencing for Herrera will be scheduled at a later date.
"Michael Herrera...pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft..." - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo
