AMSTERDAM, N.Y. (WNYT)- An Amsterdam woman admitted trying to use fake passport cards to take money from other people’s bank accounts, federal prosecutors said.
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Nikki Vancuren, 51, pleaded guilty July 7 to attempted bank fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
As part of her plea, Vancuren admitted she used fraudulent passport cards for several months in 2022 and 2023 to withdraw or try to withdraw money from other people’s accounts at banks in New York state.
Prosecutors said that included Jan. 19, when she used a fraudulent passport card with a real person’s identifying information and her own photo in an attempt to withdraw $4,000 from an NBT Bank in Johnson City.
“The Department of Justice’s Fraud Division was established to crack down on cases like this,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone. “Because of her repeated actions, Ms. Vancuren is now facing up to 30 years in federal prison. I commend the Special Agents at HSI and their local partners for investigating this case and bringing the defendant to justice.”
“By repeatedly using fraudulent passport cards to access bank accounts that did not belong to her, this defendant attacked the integrity of our financial system and put innocent account holders at risk,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone.
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“These crimes erode community trust and financial stability, and HSI remains firmly committed to uncovering, disrupting, and bringing to justice individuals involved in fraud wherever we find it,” Patrone said.
Vancuren is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 4. Officials said she faces up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million and up to five years of supervised release.
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