PROVIDENCE – The last of three California women arrested by North Providence police July 11 (“3 women face charges of ID, bank fraud at Bank of America,” July 17, 2006) has pleaded guilty to federal charges of bank fraud and identity theft, according to U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente.
Zelpha Conyers of Inglewood, Calif., pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court, Providence, to making fraudulent withdrawals at Bank of America branches in Rhode Island and six other states under the identities of real bank customers with California addresses. Her co-defendants, Patricia Moore of Los Angeles and Debbie Jolene Tucker of Rialto, Calif., have previously pleaded guilty in the withdrawals, Corrente said.
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The three had made $10,800 in withdrawals at three branches before sparking suspicions at a branch in Cranston, whose managers notified other branches. Tucker and Conyers later were seen changing wigs in a car outside a North Providence branch, whose manager called the police, Corrente said.
Luggage seized from their motel room in Seekonk after their arrest held 10 fake California driver’s licenses each bearing either Tucker’s photograph or Conyers, as well as fake Social Security cards and Bank of America customer profiles.
Conyers, 53, pleaded guilty yesterday to bank fraud conspiracy, eight counts of bank fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. The bank fraud and conspiracy charges each carry a maximum penalty of 30 years imprisonment and a $1 million fine; the ID theft charge carries a mandatory two years in prison, beyond any other sentence imposed, and a fine of up to $1 million. She was ordered held pending her sentencing May 4.
Tucker, 44, pleaded guilty on Sept. 21 to bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud. On Dec. 14, she was sentenced to 32 months in prison and ordered to repay $10,800.
Moore, 54, who at the time of her arrest gave the name Renea Johnson, pleaded guilty to the same charges as Tucker. She is being held pending her sentencing on Feb. 15.
