FRESNO  -  Leah Guillen, 39, of Madera, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to three years and three months in prison for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, in early 2018, Guillen obtained the name, Social Security account number, and date of birth of an individual. Guillen then used this information to impersonate the victim and fraudulently gain access to the victim’s bank accounts at Golden1 Credit Union. Using an unauthorized debit card, Guillen drained the victim’s bank accounts over a three-month period between April 18, 2018, and June 30, 2018, causing a loss in excess of $210,449.

In 2018 a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment  Guillen, charging her with use of unauthorized debit cards, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.  Guillen faced a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine, and she faced up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted of the use of unauthorized debit cards.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Madera Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry Z. Carbajal III prosecuted the case.