“Alexis De La Cruz will serve prison time for stealing and forging checks from older adults. I hope today’s sentencing sends a message that we will prosecute those who steal hard-earned money from Manhattanites of any age,” said District Attorney Bragg. “I urge New Yorkers to use secure electronic payment methods, when possible, to protect themselves from check fraud.”
“As alleged, William Julian posed as a wealthy investor who could help fund business ventures, when in reality, he stole more than $300,000 and spent it on personal expenses,” said District Attorney Bragg. “This is an ongoing investigation, and we believe there may be additional victims: please call our Financial Frauds Bureau at 212-335-8900.”
“This ring laundered more than $1.2 million through New York’s banks and financial services using checks for personal and corporate accounts, cashiers’ checks, and large cash withdrawals,” said District Attorney Bragg. “From ‘renovations’ to ‘packaging preorder,’ the memo line of check after check was a farce. I thank our dedicated prosecutors for their work on this case and urge New Yorkers to use secure electronic payment methods to prevent future check fraud.”
“This plea and expected prison sentence demonstrate the seriousness with which my office treats fraud targeting New Yorkers,” said District Attorney Bragg. “From real estate clients to a company purchasing hard-to-find medical gloves during the pandemic, Bryan McKenna repeatedly drained the accounts of those who looked to him for legal representation. If you have been similarly defrauded by an attorney, please contact our Financial Frauds Bureau at 212-335-8900.”
“The defendants allegedly perpetrated a wide-ranging conspiracy motivated by profit and greed. In addition to allegedly forging and depositing stolen checks, they robbed random victims and put their safety at risk, once again demonstrating the connection between financial fraud and traditional street crime. Protecting the financial security of Manhattanites is a key component of public safety, and this Office will continue to prioritize uncovering and dismantling these pernicious schemes,” said District Attorney Bragg.
