PHOENIX – LAWFUEL – The Law News Network – Noel Anthony Begley, 39, of Glendale, Ariz., was sentenced here on August 24, 2005 by U.S. District Judge James A. Teilborg to 33 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and a $4,000 fine. Begley had pleaded guilty on March 9, 2005 to Conspiracy to Commit Fraudulent Use of a Social Security Number.
Begley had been originally charged with violating Title18, U.S. Code, Section 371,
Conspiracy. The indictment listed eight people as part of the conspiracy. Begley admitted that during June 2000 to May 2001 he had been part of a conspiracy involving several people to obtain merchandise from department stores by the use of fraudulently acquired personal checks from various banks. These bank accounts were opened using both the conspirators’ real names and assumed names but in all cases using social security numbers that had not been issued to them. Begley also acknowledged personally purchasing thousands of dollars of merchandise with fraudulent checks.
His fraudulently acquired merchandise, along with other merchandise similarly acquired by other conspirators, was later refunded at the same stores by other members of the conspiracy. The money in the fraudulently opened bank account was withdrawn before any of the checks were presented to the banks for payment. Begley admitted sharing in the refund proceeds from the merchandise that had been purchased with worthless checks. The total loss caused by the conspiracy was in excess of $125,000.
Judge Teilborg noted at the time of imposing the sentence that Begley had an extensive criminal record, the criminal activity was extensive and sophisticated and the victims had been targeted because they were commercial enterprises. This lead the conspirators to believe that they stood a better chance of not being apprehended for their crimes or receiving relatively light sentences.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the FBI and the Glendale Police
Department. The prosecution was handled by Richard I. Mesh, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
