Last Defendant Pleads Guilty in Bank Fraud Conspiracy Targeting Capital Region Credit Union

ALBANY, NEW YORK - Evan Cutler, age 25, of Queensbury, New York, pled guilty today to conspiring to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. 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.

In a plea before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci, Cutler admitted that between February and October 2022, he organized a conspiracy to defraud SEFCU by, among other things, applying for loans using stolen identities of other people, and withdrawing the loaned money in cash. Cutler admitted he and other members of the conspiracy applied for loans in other people's names using fake New York driver licenses with their photographs but bearing the names and dates of birth of other people, and the proceeds were given to co-conspirator Allahson Allah. The conspirators also obtained customer account information from Caeshara Cannon, 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.

Cutler further admitted that the conspiracy netted $113,800 in fraudulent cash withdrawals.

Cutler was previously charged by an indictment, along with Allahson Allah, Davon Parson, and Dnauticah Taylor-Sterman, all of Albany. Cutler is the last defendant in the conspiracy to plead guilty. Cannon has pled guilty as well.

At sentencing on November 19, 2024, Cutler faces at least 2 years and up to 32 years in prison, a fine of up to $1.25 million, and a supervised release term of up to 5 years. A defendant's sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

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