FDLE agents today arrested three suspects of an illegal ring that opened new bank accounts for the purpose of cashing fraudulent checks, which totaled more than $30,000.
Those arrested are: Luis Bonilla, Jr.; Frederico Di Pietro; and Pablo Serrano. All three list Tampa as their residence. They are facing charges of organized scheme to defraud and conspiracy to commit organized scheme to defraud.
The investigation found that from August 2014 through October 2017, the suspects opened new bank accounts and then created fraudulent checks by using routing and account numbers from the new accounts.
In most of the schemes, a suspect would deposit funds into a new account. The account holder would then cash a fake check bearing the name of a registered company. While some of the companies were registered with the Florida Department of State, most were inactive. The suspects often would deposit and cash checks within hours or days in an effort to prevent banks from noticing the fraudulent activity.
The suspects traveled to multiple locations throughout the Tampa area and Central and Northwest Florida.
Bonilla, Di Pietro and Serrano were booked into the Hillsborough County Jail. The Office of Statewide Prosecution is prosecuting the case. The investigation is ongoing.
