A 22-year-old man from Portland, Paul Logugune, pleaded guilty in court on Wednesday to charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine, Logugune and an accomplice engaged in a series of thefts, breaking into unattended vehicles to steal purses and wallets during May and June 2022.
The stolen items were then used to obtain driver’s licenses and checkbooks. The investigation revealed that Logugune and his coconspirator forged checks drawn on the stolen checkbooks, making them payable to the names listed on the stolen licenses. They also recruited others to cash the forged checks at various credit union branches across Cumberland County, utilizing the stolen IDs to impersonate the victims of identity theft.
As a result of his actions, Logugune now faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, along with up to five years of supervised release and a potential fine of up to $1 million. His sentencing will be scheduled once the U.S. Probation Office completes a presentence investigation report.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).