Clifton man admits role in $1 million scheme
A Clifton man admitted to stealing more than $1 million by manipulating victims into depositing money into fake bank accounts, authorities said.
Clifton man admits role in $1 million scheme A Clifton man admitted to stealing more than $1 million by manipulating victims into depositing money into fake bank accounts, authorities said. Check out this story on northjersey.com: https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/crime/2019/04/24/clifton-nj-man-admits-role-1-million-scheme/3566088002/
Joshua Jongsma, North Jersey Record Published 4:54 p.m. ET April 24, 2019 | Updated 6:16 p.m. ET April 25, 2019
A Clifton man admitted Wednesday to stealing more than $1 million by manipulating victims into depositing money into fake bank accounts, authorities said.
Lawrence Espaillat, 41, was one of three people to plead guilty in the scheme, according to U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito.
Espaillat and his cohorts used sham corporations and fake email addresses that resembled real ones to request payment from real estate purchases, brokerage firms and accountants, according to Carpenito. They then withdrew thousands from the accounts and transferred the money to foreign bank accounts.
The conspiracy took place from March 2017 to June 2018.
Corry Pringley and Amanda Suazo also pleaded guilty in the scheme earlier this year and await sentencing.
Court documents state that Espaillat left a voicemail to Suazo discussing one of the victims, and he said, "Yea, let's try and do it three times cause we tried, we gotta try and get all this money out before these mother [expletive] shut down this account. ... We gotta try to make the most money we can honey."
There were about 30 transactions in the scheme with victims from all over the country.
Espaillat faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for July 30.
Email: jongsma@northjersey.com
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