Henrico County, Va. – A 31-year-old man from Henrico was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Deonte Trent was convicted for participating in a scheme known as “card-cracking” between June 2018 and April 2020.
Court documents reveal that Trent orchestrated the fraud by bribing bank tellers at Wells Fargo to provide sensitive customer information, including names, addresses, bank account numbers, and social security numbers. In exchange for this confidential data, Trent offered the tellers money.
As part of the fraudulent operation, Trent recruited existing Wells Fargo customers to allow him to deposit counterfeit checks into their accounts. In return, Trent promised compensation to the account holders. Additionally, Trent targeted new customers, encouraging them to open accounts at Wells Fargo for the purpose of receiving the fraudulent deposits.
Once the checks were deposited, Trent provided the account holders with Wells Fargo debit cards and PIN numbers, enabling him to withdraw the funds before the bank detected the checks as fraudulent. In some instances, Trent allegedly coached the account holders to provide false information when contacted by bank representatives regarding the fraudulent transactions.
The scheme came to light after an investigation by the Department of Justice, which ultimately led to Trent’s conviction. The case underscores the risks posed by financial crimes that manipulate both banking institutions and unsuspecting customers.
Trent’s sentencing serves as a warning about the dangers of fraud schemes and the importance of safeguarding personal and financial information. It also highlights the role of bank employees in preventing such activities and protecting the integrity of financial systems.
