David J. Miller of New York was indicted in federal court last week for allegedly stealing $3.6 million from the city of Miami Beach.
Miller, 45, faces 20 counts of bank fraud, one count of access device fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. He was arrested in Syracuse, New York on unrelated identity theft charges on May 31. Sources say he is going to be transferred to Florida for his arraignment. The press did not name an attorney for him.
Antoaneta Iotova and Issak Almaleh of Hollywood, Florida were arrested on January 25 for their alleged involvement in a bank fraud scheme involving properties in Florida and New York estimated to be worth $17 million.
They are being charged with wire fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and making false statements to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC). It is unclear if they have acquired the services of an attorney.
Deputy Frantz Felisma of Boynton Beach, Florida was arrested on December 23 for allegedly providing an identity thief with personal information in exchange for $10,000 a month. Felisma, 42, faces charges for conspiracy to commit identity theft, access device fraud, aggravated identity theft, and access of a computer in furtherance of a fraud. He was ordered held without bond.
According to the criminal complaint, Felisma was named by Kesner Joaseus of Wellington. Joaseus, 47, is an alleged identity thief who pleaded guilty to federal charges in two cases last year after a search warrant sweep of his home turned up personal information of identity theft victims that he reportedly used to fraudulently open bank accounts and lines of credit.
Roberto Omar Ernesto Bastardo Pena, a former Wells Fargo employee of Jupiter, Florida, was arrested on September 16 and is being charged with grand theft and fraud. Pena, 33, allegedly took $185,000 from the account of a Wells Fargo client and transferred it to a fake checking account under his control.
Pena reportedly confessed the crime to his boss before going to Jupiter police. Jail records show he was released the following day after paying a $30,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court again on October 17. News sources did not name an attorney for Pena.
Irene Garrett of Broward County, Florida was arrested last Wednesday for allegedly attempting to defraud senior citizens by posing as a bank employee and warning them about unusual activity on their bank accounts. Garrett, 35, purportedly collected compromised credit cards from the elderly and used them to steal money from accounts, racking up thousands of dollars in shopping bills.
Garrett is facing 20 charges related to fraud, theft, illegal use of credit cards, and the exploitation of the elderly. Her bond was to be set at $60,100 during her first-appearance court session last Thursday, but she is instead being held without bond because she violated probation on a criminal traffic case. The press did not name an attorney for Garrett.
Criminal Defense and Civil Forfeiture Blog