Posted on 10/30/2019 12:28:39 PM PDT by ransomnote
A Texas man pleaded guilty today to defrauding victims around the United States by selling them fake “standby letters of credit” and other forged and fraudulent bank documents.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Assistant Director in Charge Timothy R. Slater of the FBI’s Washington Field Office made the announcement.
James Pierce, 43, of Spring, Texas, pleaded guilty to a three-count indictment charging him with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud before Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell of the District of Columbia. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 10, 2020, before Judge Howell.
As part of his guilty plea, Pierce admitted that he and his co-conspirators falsely represented to their victims that they had a relationship with a bank located in the Dominican Republic (“Bank 1”), that they could use to secure financing for the victims’ large commercial transactions. In exchange for six-figure fees paid by the victims, the defendant and his co-conspirators falsely promised that the victims could gain access to credit at Bank 1. They further represented that Bank 1 would issue Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) inter-bank messages to banks designated by the victims, showing that the victims had access to such credit. In reality, the defendant and his co-conspirators had no such relationship with Bank 1, and provided the victims with fake Bank 1 documentation falsely showing that it had transmitted the promised bank instruments. When the victims did not receive their SWIFT messages, the defendant and his co-conspirators gave the victims excuses and false statements, and in several instances, fraudulently induced the victims to pay additional money to have their bank documentation “re-issued” – which also never happened. Pierce also used a website and email address at jpierceinvestments.com to carry out the fraud.
The FBI investigated the case. Trial Attorney Blake Goebel and Assistant Chief Justin Weitz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
Individuals who believe that they may be a victim in this case should visit the Fraud Section’s Victim Witness website for more information.
Do people other than Nigerians still use letters of credit???
I do not trust financial people. Twice some bank’s financial advisor tried to steal my money. Once about 15 years ago when I changed jobs and wanted to put my 401K into a bank IRA. It took me 6 months to get my money moved from the 401K into an IRA. Then, two years ago, when I reached the mandatory age where I had to start taking money out. The bank said, “What Account?”. Luckily I saved a dozen years of statements. It took one of the bank’s VPs 4-1/2 months to track my funds through 6 intermediate companies (other banks, credit unions, insurance companies, etc.) and get the money back. The financial guy had been hiding it for himself. It triggered an investigation that showed that the financial guy was doing this with lots of people. He’s in jail and my money is back.
I’m glad you got restored.
The days of me trusting bankers ended a long time ago.
Web site mentioned is still up.
Web site mentioned is still up.
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