Ameer Clark, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud in the Western District of New York. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo. Clark faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine after entering his plea before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul E. Bonanno and Sasha Mascarenhas, Clark participated in a scheme with Lorenzo Jones, Quentavious Price, Montez White, and others between January and September 2022 to defraud financial institutions. The group traveled from Atlanta to western New York, stole legitimate checks from businesses, and then created fraudulent versions drawn on those business accounts.
The conspirators recruited individuals to cash these checks at local banks. To avoid suspicion, they provided these individuals with clothing that made them appear as construction workers or laborers and transported them to various financial institutions where they attempted to cash the fraudulent checks for a small payment.
The investigation revealed specific incidents:
– In January 2022, Price, Jones, and two others traveled from Atlanta to Buffalo where they drove an individual to several KeyBank branches attempting to cash fraudulent checks tied to businesses in Elma and Tonawanda.
– In March 2022, Price and two others again came from Atlanta and drove three people around Buffalo area banks including M&T Bank branches as well as Bank on Buffalo and Evans Bank branches trying similar check-cashing schemes targeting businesses in Tonawanda, Clarence, and Sanborn.
– In September 2022, Clark joined Price, Jones, and White on a trip from Atlanta to Rochester where six individuals were taken to multiple bank branches—M&T Bank, KeyBank, Northwest Bank among others—to attempt more fraudulent transactions affecting businesses in Rochester and Alden.
The total loss associated with the conspiracy—including both actual losses suffered by victims as well as intended losses—amounts to $64,979.67.
“Co-conspirators Lorenzo Jones and Quentavious Price were previously convicted. Charges remain pending against Montez White.”
“The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special-Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie P. Feroleto.”
Sentencing for Clark is scheduled for January 5, 2026 before Judge Vilardo.
