North Carolina Brother and Sister Plead Guilty to Fraud

In North Carolina, a brother and sister recently pleaded guilty to creating fraudulent student loan applications.  The siblings allegedly obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars from the well-known Chase Bank.

Melissa Renee Heggie (29) and Marvin R. Heggie (27) of Raleigh, North Carolina pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, aiding an abetting wire fraud, aiding and abetting mail fraud and aggravated identity theft.

The U.S. Attorney's office in Raleigh claims that the Heggies promised fast money turn around to 14 people who provided the Heggies with their social security numbers and other forms of personal identification.  The siblings than used the information to make fake student loan applications and submitted the applications to Chase Bank.

The scheme, which lasted from June 2007 till March 2008, managed to defraud Chase Bank of nearly $340,000.

 "The student loan program and the overall integrity of our banking system depends upon honesty and fair dealing," Acting U.S. Attorney John S. Bruce said in a written statement. "The defendants abused that system by representing themselves to be eligible for loans to which they did not qualify and they defrauded the victim banks out of a great deal of money. We look forward to seeking justice in this case at sentencing."

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