Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
Trinity Antonetty, a 24-year-old from Boston, pleaded guilty on Mar. 19 in federal court to one count of bank fraud for her involvement in a scheme targeting a Massachusetts bank. U.S. District Judge Julia E. Kobick has scheduled sentencing for Aug. 18.
The case is part of an ongoing investigation into multi-state financial crimes that have affected banks across Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
According to court documents, Antonetty opened a business account between July and October 2024 and allowed Phalentz Vernot to deposit fraudulent cashier’s checks into it. She used funds from one check deposited by Vernot to purchase another cashier’s check payable to a shell company under Vernot's control. When the bank froze another deposit over suspected fraud, Antonetty called the institution and falsely claimed she operated a high-end car dealership and that the funds were related to the sale of a luxury vehicle.
Authorities reported that Vernot and five other men were charged in July 2025 as part of this larger investigation into defrauding regional banks out of millions of dollars. Vernot pleaded guilty on Dec. 17, 2025; two more individuals were charged earlier this month for their roles in the scheme.
Bank fraud carries penalties including up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and fines up to $1 million or twice the gross gain or loss—whichever is greater. Sentences are determined by federal judges according to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and applicable statutes.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced these developments along with Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Boston Division; P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge at FBI New Haven Division; as well as local law enforcement agencies from Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts who assisted with the investigation.
