Akeem Harris, 26, of Newark, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of money laundering before U.S. District Judge Sue L. Robinson .The charges came in connection with the theft of more than $450,000. Harris is scheduled to be sentenced on September 13, 2016.
According to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Delaware, in or around May 2015, using the business name of Wolf Distribution, Harris opened a bank account and subsequently deposited an altered check of about $439,000.00, written from the account of a New York-based health services provider.
In the two weeks after the check was deposited, Harris made a series of cash withdrawals and obtained bank checks, made payable to himself as well as other individuals and entities associated with him.
In January 2015, Harris also received a fraudulent wire transfer of $40,000 from the account of a community development investment foundation based in Maryland. Using the proceeds of that fraudulent wire transfer, Harris then purchased an official bank check and depleted the funds through a series of cash withdrawals.
Harris agreed to the forfeiture of approximately $33,000 which the government anticipates will be returned to the victims of his crimes.
The maximum sentence for bank fraud is up to 30 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million The maximum sentence for money laundering is up to 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Charles Oberly stated, “Mr. Harris’s actions compromise both the integrity of financial institutions and the soundness of the organizations that rely upon them. His willingness to participate in a variety of schemes shows a callous disregard for the law.”
