RALEIGH – A Raleigh man pleaded guilty today to Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud.
According to court documents and information presented in open court, Jacques Maurico Anderson, 32, conspired with others to defraud financial institutions of approximately $393,875. Anderson and a close friend purchased synthetic identities from an individual they met on Craig’s List. Anderson used this nine-digit-number, commonly referred to as a CPN, on credit applications instead of the social security number issued to him by the Social Security Administration because his credit was poor. Anderson and his friend enhanced the credit worthiness of their new credit profiles by adding the CPN coupled with their names as authorized users to credit cards issued to individuals with high credit scores. As a result, lenders and credit card issuers were scammed in believing Anderson and his friend had good credit and the ability to pay off indebtedness.
Between February 17, 2017 and March 8, 2017, Anderson and his friend went on a month long shopping spree with their new synthetic identities. They also substantially inflated their income and provided false residential addresses. In total, they purchased or attempted to purchase five automobiles, eight All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), one covered wagon trailer and obtained seven credit cards. Anderson and his friend attempted to sell some of the ATVs that they fraudulently obtained to others.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Numbers accepted the plea. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General are investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Menzer is prosecuting the case.
U.S District Judge James C. Dever, III will sentence Anderson during the January 2021 term of court. The maximum penalties are thirty years’ imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine. Restitution is mandatory.
