California Parolee Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy,
Felony Bank Fraud, and Aggravated ID Theft

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced that RICARDO F. SAINZ, 44, of San Jose, California, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Edward J. Garcia to three felony offenses related to his scheme to steal money from the Golden One Credit Union by means of fraud and identity theft.

This case is the product of a combined investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U. S. Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General.

According to Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rodriguez, who is prosecuting the case, RICARDO SAINZ, from 2002 through 2005, engaged in a scheme with his estranged wife, NORA SAINZ, of Sacramento, California, to use stolen Social Security numbers to obtain fraudulent credit union memberships in order to open checking accounts, and obtain loans. On October 5, 2007, NORA SAINZ was sentenced by Judge Garcia to 36 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. RICARDO SAINZ, who was on parole at the time he committed the fraud and identity theft offenses, was a fugitive until his arrest in San Jose, California on May 16, 2008.

RICARDO SAINZ is scheduled to be sentenced on September 5, 2008. The maximum total penalty he faces on all charges is 37 years in prison. RICARDO SAINZ will receive a minimum term of two-years’ federal incarceration for his use of another person’s identification to commit his conspiracy, bank and credit application fraud offenses. He also faces a five-year term of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1,500,000. According to the plea agreement in this case, RICARDO SAINZ agreed that he will jointly and severally (with NORA SAINZ) make full restitution for the $33,216.73 actual loss in this case.

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