Florida woman pleads guilty for her role in bank fraud scheme

ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Renee M. Thompson, 53, of North Lauderdale, FL, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. to conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Thompson also agreed to pay restitution totaling $28,500.

Beginning in April 2023, Thompson conspired with others to commit bank fraud. In April 2023, a Victim Company mailed a $12,914.11 check from the Western District of New York to a vendor in Florida. Thompson or a co-conspirator stole the check and altered it, making it payable to Thompson. In July 2023, Thompson deposited the check into an account in her name at TD Bank. Thompson or her co-conspirators then used the Victim Company's name, address, bank account number, routing number, and signature to create 16 more fraudulent checks. Between July 24 and August 15, 2023, Thompson and her co-conspirators deposited the fraudulent checks and successfully obtained $205,780.52 from the Victim Company's account at C&N Bank. In June 2023, Thompson deposited two additional counterfeit checks totaling $7,098 into an account in her name at Truist Bank.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Brendan Dunford and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Harry T. Chavis, Jr.

Sentencing is scheduled for September 9, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Geraci.

# # # #