United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

HARTFORD MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO BANK FRAUD

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LEVAR S. JOHNSON, age 22, of Magnolia Street, Hartford, Connecticut, has pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. United States District Judge Alvin W. Thompson accepted JOHNSON's plea of guilty yesterday, February 26, in Hartford federal court.

According to a twenty-four count Indictment, which was returned by a grand jury on October 28, 2003, and other documents filed with the court, from approximately April 2003 through July 2003, JOHNSON, co-defendant Jermaine L. Wint, and Darmar S. Jenkins devised and executed a scheme to defraud Fleet Bank and to obtain money owned by Fleet Bank by false and fraudulent pretenses. The Indictment alleged that, in furtherance of the scheme, JOHNSON, Wint and Jenkins solicited individuals to open checking and savings accounts at Fleet Bank and obtained and caused others to obtain from those individuals the automated teller machine ("ATM") cards, personal identification numbers, and temporary checks issued by Fleet Bank in connection with the accounts. Using the ATM cards and PINs, it is alleged that JOHNSON, Wint and Jenkins deposited temporary checks from other accounts, typically in the amount of $1,600.00, into the newly opened Fleet Bank accounts, knowing that the checks were not backed by sufficient funds, and thereafter withdrew the funds from the bank accounts into which the temporary checks were deposited before the bank had sufficient time to determine that the deposited checks were, in fact, worthless.

Judge Thompson is scheduled to sentence JOHNSON on May 14, 2004, who faces up to thirty years imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine for the bank fraud conviction.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa E. Perkins and Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Ronald S. Apter.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov