A New Jersey man was indicted today in federal court with stealing $250,000 from two Massachusetts victims’ joint investment account by using a series of assumed identities.
Bryan Wells, 26, was charged in an indictment with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. He had been arrested on a criminal complaint alleging wire fraud on July 28, 2010, and has remained in federal custody since that time.
An affidavit previously filed to support the criminal complaint alleges that in April 2010 Wells targeted two Massachusetts victims’ joint investment account at the Charles Schwab investment firm and that he sent Charles Schwab several fraudulent faxes that resulted in the company’s wiring $250,000 from the investment account to bank accounts that he had set up using other fraudulently-obtained identities, all without the permission of the account-holders or the other people whose identities he had fraudulently assumed. Wells allegedly obtained drivers’ licenses in their names using their dates of birth and Social Security numbers to obtain the licenses.
As the standard reminder: details contained in the indictment, complaint, and affidavit are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts