PROVIDENCE – A Bronx, N.Y., admitted in federal court in Providence Tuesday to his role in various stolen identity and bank fraud schemes bilking banks, finance companies, car dealerships, and others in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and elsewhere out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman announced this week that Angel L. Morales, 52, is one of 10 people charged in a series of indictments and criminal complaints in U.S. District Court in Providence for their alleged participation in conspiracies where people used stolen personal identifying information to open credit union accounts online and bank accounts in person at various bank branch offices, obtained auto loans using fraudulent documentation, and then quickly withdrew the funds before the banks discovered the fraudulent activity.
Morales is among six individuals named in a 32-count superseding indictment returned on Feb. 6, 2019. The indictment charges Morales with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and three counts of bank fraud. Before U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., Morales pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft, according to Weisman’s office.
Morales traveled to the Dominican Republic in September 2018, shortly after federal agents executed search warrants at the New Jersey apartment of one of his alleged co-conspirators. He returned to the United States on March 30, 2019, and was arrested in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., after arriving on a flight from the Dominican Republic, Weisman’s office reports.
In court, Morales admitted that he opened bank accounts at various bank branch offices in Rhode Island and Massachusetts using stolen personal identifying information provided to him by other members of the conspiracy. Proceeds from fraudulently obtained car loans obtained by others with the use of fraudulent sales documents and vehicle titles were electronically deposited into accounts opened by Morales. Morales and others quickly withdrew the funds prior to banks discovering the schemes.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William J. Ferland and Zachary A. Cunha.
Morales, who has been in federal custody since his arrest, is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 19, 2019
Author: Rob Borkowski
Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at [email protected] with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.
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