Albany Man Sentenced to Prison in Bank Fraud Conspiracy Targeting SEFCU

ALBANY, NEW YORK - Davon Parson, age 20, of Albany, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison, to be followed by 2 years of post-release supervision, for his role in a bank fraud conspiracy targeting SEFCU. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.

Parson previously pled guilty to one count of bank fraud conspiracy and one count of aggravated identity theft. He admitted that he was a member of a conspiracy to defraud SEFCU by, among other things, applying for loans using stolen identities of real people, and withdrawing the money in cash. Parson admitted that he applied for a $25,000 loan in another person's name using a fake driver's license. Parson also admitted that he had cashed and attempted to cash fraudulent checks drawn on real customers' accounts.

Parson was charged by indictment, along with Evan Cutler, of Queensbury, New York, Dnauticah Taylor-Sterman, of Albany, and Allahson Allah, formerly known as Gwyn Cancer, of Albany. According to the indictment and statements made by prosecutors in court, the conspirators obtained customer account information from Caeshara Cannon, age 33, of Albany, a former Member Service Manager at SEFCU, and used that information to create counterfeit checks, which were presented for negotiation at SEFCU branches in the Northern District of New York. The conspirators also obtained personal identifying information of real people, which they used to fraudulently obtain loans from SEFCU and then withdraw the proceeds in cash.

Parson was also ordered to pay $9,000 restitution to SEFCU. The remaining defendants have all pled guilty and are due to be sentenced later this year. In addition, Caeshara Cannon was previously arrested and pled guilty on September 14, 2023 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. She is scheduled for sentencing on October 4, 2024.

HSI is investigating the case, with assistance from the Bethlehem Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting this case.