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Date: 03-17-2018
Case Style:
United States of America v. Shawn Dale Torrez
District of New Mexico Federal Courthouse - Albuquerque, New Mexico
Case Number: 1:17-cr-02944-JB
Judge: JB
Court: United States District Court for the District of New Mexico (Bernalillo County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: Nicholas J. Ganjei
Defendant's Attorney: Diego Esquibel
Description: Albuquerque, NM - Albuquerque Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Bank Fraud and Identity Theft Charges
Shawn Dale Torrez, 40, of Albuquerque, N.M., pled guilty on March 15, 2018 in federal court to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft charges. Torrez entered the guilty plea under a plea agreement that recommends a sentence of 42 to 48 months of imprisonment followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service arrested Torrez on Dec. 8, 2017, on a four-count indictment charging him with two counts of bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. According to the indictment, Torrez committed the offenses from July 23, 2014 through April 16, 2015, in New Mexico, by stealing mail, which included personal identifying information of individuals, to create and use counterfeit drivers’ licenses and drivers’ licenses extensions to submit online applications for lines of credit and credit cards in the names of the individuals.
During today’s proceedings, Torrez pled guilty to the four-count indictment. In entering the guilty plea, Torrez admitted that on Jan. 10, 2015, he opened a fraudulent line of credit through Wells Fargo bank in the amount of $23,000 at an Albuquerque-area jewelry store. Torrez used the personal identifiers of a victim, without the victim’s permission, to open the account and to purchase a three-stone diamond ring and a wristwatch. Torrez also admitted that on March 15, 2015, he used a fraudulent Sandia Labs Credit Union check with the victim’s name and address to make an $860.07 furniture purchase at an Albuquerque-area store. Torrez acknowledged that he used the victim’s identity in order to commit fraud.
Torrez remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Outcome: Guilty
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
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