LAWFUEL – The Law News Network – R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida and Andrew A. Apollony, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Filed Office, announced that defendant, Edward Luis Pimentel, of Homestead, and defendant, Joaquin Pimentel, of the Miami-Hialeah area, each entered guilty pleas in U.S. District Court, to one count of bank fraud. Edward Pimentel is a detective with the Miccosukee Police Department. His brother, Joaquin Pimentel, is a correctional officer with the Broward County Sheriffs Office.
According to statements made in Court, the defendants were involved in a scheme in which each submitted a fraudulent loan application to a financial institution concerning the purported purchase of a vehicle. Both defendants obtained false vehicle identification numbers for a different automobile to create a false bill of sale and other documents used to support their loan applications. The loan was approved in reliance on the documents. Thereafter, the Pimentels received the loan proceeds, and never repaid the loan to the financial institution.
The defendants entered their separate pleas before United States District Court Judge Paul Huck, who set their sentencings for March 30, 2006 at 2 p.m. The defendants each face a potential prison sentence of up to five (5) years and a possible fine of up to $250,000. Each has also agreed to make restitution in the amount of $205,841.18.
Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation who participated in the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Allyson Fritz.
A copy of all press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on .
