Law Firm Employee Indicted on Bank Fraud Charges

Bonnie Sweeten was charged today in a 23-count indictment with wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, misuse of passport, use of forged or altered passport, false statement to a federal official, money laundering, and engaging in monetary transactions in the proceeds of fraud, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. The indictment alleges that Sweeten, while employed at a law office, stole in excess of $700,000 from clients, the law office, and co-workers. The indictment further alleges that Sweeten fabricated numerous documents, including a court order, an assignment of bail, a power of attorney, and e-mails, altered identification documents, including a driver's license and a United States passport, forged signatures of others, and even assumed the identity of others throughout her criminal conduct. If convicted of all charges, Sweeten faces a maximum possible sentence of 375 years in prison, including a two-year mandatory minimum, five years' supervised release, a fine of up to $6.75 million, a $2,300 special assessment, and full restitution. Posted in: Internal Fraud