Bronx Man Pleads Guilty to Multi-State Bank Fraud Scheme

Coordinated identity theft operation caused over $91,000 in losses across multiple states, ending in Western New York.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 10:55pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a crumpled bank check or ATM receipt, capturing the textural details and dramatic lighting to conceptually illustrate the investigative nature of a financial crime investigation.A recent wave of coordinated identity theft and bank fraud schemes has exposed vulnerabilities in financial security measures across multiple states.Buffalo Today

A 38-year-old Bronx man named Edwin Robles has pleaded guilty to federal charges related to a multi-state bank fraud and identity theft scheme that caused over $91,000 in losses. Robles and his co-conspirators recruited an accomplice in Connecticut to impersonate account holders and make unauthorized withdrawals at bank branches in several states, including two Northwest Bank locations in Western New York.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing threat of coordinated identity theft and bank fraud schemes that can span multiple states and result in significant financial losses for victims. It also underscores the need for robust security measures and customer protections at financial institutions to prevent such crimes.

The details

Between January 28 and February 5, 2025, Robles and his co-conspirators - Vance Ashley, Edward Richardson, and Michael Herrera - traveled to bank branches in Wilmington, Delaware; Liberty, New York; Lock Haven, Pennsylvania; Lockport, New York; and Williamsville, New York. During these trips, Ashley used the identities of other individuals to make unauthorized withdrawals from their bank accounts, totaling over $91,000 in actual and intended losses.

  • On January 28, 2025, the group began the scheme in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
  • Between January 28 and February 3, 2025, the group targeted bank branches in Wilmington, Delaware; Liberty, New York; and Lock Haven, Pennsylvania.
  • On February 5, 2025, the group targeted two Northwest Bank branches in Western New York, making unauthorized withdrawals in Lockport and Williamsville.

The players

Edwin Robles

A 38-year-old man from the Bronx who pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the multi-state bank fraud scheme.

Vance Ashley

An accomplice recruited in Bridgeport, Connecticut to impersonate account holders and make unauthorized withdrawals in exchange for money.

Edward Richardson

A co-conspirator who traveled with Robles and the others to target bank branches across multiple states.

Michael Herrera

A co-conspirator who traveled with Robles and the others to target bank branches across multiple states.

Northwest Bank

A regional bank with branches in Western New York that were targeted by the group as part of the fraud scheme.

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What’s next

Robles faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine when he is sentenced for the crimes. His co-conspirator, Vance Ashley, has already been convicted and is awaiting sentencing.

The takeaway

This case underscores the need for financial institutions to have robust security measures and customer protections in place to prevent such coordinated identity theft and bank fraud schemes that can cause significant losses across multiple states.