DOJ: Bronx man fraudulently withdrew over $148K

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Bronx man pleaded guilty to conspiracy after withdrawing over $148,000 fraudulently from accounts that weren't his, per the Department of Justice (DOJ). The Cohoes Police Department seized $10,000 from Victor Barriera, 63, who was arrested along with codefendants after being caught trying to defraud a local credit union.

According to the DOJ, Barriera admitted to being a part of a bank fraud conspiracy targeting credit unions insured by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund. From December 2021 to April 2023, Barriera, along with several codefendants, withdrew funds from accounts of a shared branching network.

The DOJ says the network allowed customers at local credit unions to have easier access to their accounts when traveling the country. Barriera admitted that the conspirators exploited this network by creating fake identifications in the names of real credit union customers but with photographs of other people.

The DOJ says Barriera made fraudulent transactions at shared branch member credit unions all over the country in exchange for drugs or a small amount of the stolen money. In total, he admitted to withdrawing at least $148,352 and tried to fraudulently obtain an additional $15,000 while working with the conspiracy.

Barriera will also be ordered to pay restitution to the victims of his crimes for $148,352.  Barriera has also agreed to forfeit $10,000 in U.S. currency seized by Cohoes Police Department in May 2022. He faces up to 30 years in prison, a term of supervised release of up to five years, and a fine of $1M.