Julio Ariza Guilty Plea

Providence Man Admits Role in Counterfeit Check Scheme

PROVIDENCE – A Providence man today admitted to a federal judge that he willingly participated in a bank fraud scheme that obtained bank routing and account information of unsuspecting individuals that were used to create and deposit counterfeit checks and withdraw funds, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

In pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud, Julio Ariza, 27, admitted that, from approximately October 28, 2020, to November 4, 2020, he arranged for and coordinated the deposit of at least seven counterfeit checks, with the intent of defrauding banks of $102,694.38.

Ariza is scheduled to be sentenced on May 16, 2023. The defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

A co-defendant in this matter, Nestor Concepcion, 27, of Johnston, similarly charged, pleaded guilty on January 21, 2022, and was sentenced on April 25, 2022, to sixteen months of incarceration to be followed by four years of federal supervised release. Concepcion admitted to the court that the intended loss to banks due to his criminal conduct totaled $71,717.77.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ly T. Chin.

The matter was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service.