A Bemidji couple was indicted in Minnesota federal court Tuesday on charges of bank fraud and identity theft.
Monica Ann Spencer, 33, and Sean David Adams, 28, both of Bemidji, were charged with one count of aiding and abetting bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Spencer faces an additional charge of theft of government property.
Earlier this year, the two were charged in Beltrami District Court with transaction card fraud for allegedly swiping credit card information and check information from rural mailboxes and writing fraudulent checks to businesses in Bemidji, Fargo, Grand Forks, Detroit Lakes, Minn., and other cities, according to the criminal complaint.
The federal indictment alleges Spencer and Adams worked together to defraud and obtain money from financial institutions.
According to the federal indictment, the two would steal mail containing financial information and documents, such as credit card account information, credit card "cash advance checks" and bank checks.
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They then forged the signature of one victim to get a cash advance check, then presented the check at a grocery store, according to the indictment.
In addition, Spencer is alleged to have stolen computers and computer accessories, worth about $7,043, from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
A bank fraud conviction could mean a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The identity theft charge carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and the theft charge has a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Reach Nadeau at (701) 780-118 or snadeau@gfherald.com .
