Virginia Man Admits to Identity Theft and Money Laundering

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA - A Henrico, Virginia man has admitted identity theft and money laundering, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.

Michael K. Vordjorbe, 30, pled guilty today to aggravated identity theft and transactional money laundering. According to court documents and statements made in court, Vordjorbe worked with others to withdraw funds from accounts at several banks, some in the Northern District of West Virginia, by assuming the identities of the account holders without their knowledge or permission. Once the funds were illegally obtained, Vordjorbe and others would deposit the money into another account to hide the theft. The total amount fraudulent funds obtained totaled $137,000 and total relevant conduct amount of the fraud was between $550,000 and $1.5 million.

Vordjorbe faces up to two years in prison for identity theft and faces up to 10 years for money laundering. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Eleanor Hurney is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.

Investigative agencies include the FBI; the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations; the U.S. Postal Service, Loudon County, Virginia; and the Stamford, Connecticut Police Department.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.