United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

HARTFORD MAN INDICTED ON CHARGES OF BANK FRAUD

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford has returned an Indictment charging HUGO C. QUIROZ, age 43, of 173 Russ Street, Hartford, Connecticut, with eight counts of bank fraud.

According to the Indictment, which was returned on April 29, 2004, in or about December 2000, Fleet Bank inadvertently merged the defendant's accounts, which had been previously closed and had a $0.00 balance at the time of closure, with savings and checking accounts belonging to another individual with a similar name. As a result, the QUIROZ's name and social security number became associated with the other individual's accounts. Thereafter, between on or about August 20, 2002 and on or about November 22, 2002, defendant falsely represented and made false pretense to Fleet Bank that he was the owner of these accounts, thereby inducing Fleet Bank to permit him to make withdrawals from those accounts. In addition, QUIROZ induced Fleet Bank to issue him a new debit card and personal checks for the other individual's checking account and had Fleet Bank change the mailing address associated with the other individual's accounts to QUIROZ's residence in Hartford. The Indictment further alleges that, as a result of his fraudulent scheme, the defendant obtained net proceeds of approximately $45,000 belonging to the other individual.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial at which it is the Government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service with the cooperation of Fleet Bank's Fraud Investigation Unit and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dave Vatti.

CONTACT:

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