N.Y. man allegedly withdrew cash from Massachusetts residents’ financial institution accounts utilizing pretend passports

A New York man is going through costs after he allegedly withdrew cash from Massachusetts residents’ financial institution accounts utilizing pretend passports, the Massachusetts U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace introduced Tuesday. 

Authorities arrested 40-year-old Jean Andre Bontiffe in New York on Monday, the U.S. Lawyer’s workplace mentioned in a press launch. He’s going through one rely of constructing or utilizing a cast passport, financial institution fraud, and aggravated identification theft.

Authorities started investigating Bontiffe after he was arrested in New York on Aug 9., 2022, the U.S. Lawyer’s workplace mentioned. He had tried to undergo LaGuardia Airport safety utilizing a pretend driver’s license bearing the title of one of many victims, based on authorities. 

An investigation into Bontiffe revealed that he had traveled to Massachusetts earlier that summer season and allegedly stole a complete of $13,800 from three victims’ financial institution accounts over the course of three days, the U.S. Lawyer’s workplace mentioned.

In a single occasion on July 20, 2022, Bontiffe allegedly tried to withdraw $4,500 at a TD Financial institution in North Andover utilizing a U.S. passport and a Uncover card within the title of one of many victims as proof of identification. His signature didn’t match that of the sufferer’s, main the financial institution to disclaim the transaction and confiscate the cardboard and passport earlier than he fled the scene, the U.S. Lawyer’s workplace mentioned.

Bontiffe faces a compulsory minimal sentence of two years in jail that have to be served after another jail sentences if convicted of aggravated identification theft. He might serve as much as 40 years in jail and be fined as a lot as $500,000 if convicted on the opposite two costs. 

Bontiffe is due in federal court docket in Boston on Nov. 14.