Security News: Miami Man Arrested and Charged with Bank Fraud and Identity Theft

Source: United States Department of Justice News

CLEVELAND – First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler announced that Sedric J. Lewis, age 35, of Miami, Florida, was charged in a four-count indictment with two counts of bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft in the Northern District of Ohio.

According to the indictment, in June 2019, Lewis used the personal identifying information of another individual to open a bank account with JPMorgan Chase Bank. In addition, the indictment alleges that in August 2019, Lewis deposited into the same JPMorgan Chase Bank account a fraudulent check bearing the forged signature of another individual.

Lewis was arrested on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022, in Miami.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, a sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum; in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

This case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Jason W. White.