A Bronx resident was sentenced to one to three years in prison after he pleaded guilty in February to multiple counts of grand larceny and identity theft for stealing the identities of multiple Suffolk County residents and then using their personal information to obtain money.
On April 13, 2023, at approximately 12:12 p.m., after obtaining his first victim’s Suffolk County address and contact information off the dark web, Donald Archibald entered an M&T Bank in Bridgeport, Connecticut and displayed a fake driver’s license to the bank teller. The license displayed the victim’s correct name and address but had the defendant’s face depicted. Archibald presented the teller with a withdrawal slip and withdrew $2,000 from the victim’s checking account.
Later that same day, at approximately 12:36 p.m., Archibald entered a different M&T Bank branch in Bridgeport, Connecticut and used the same Suffolk County resident’s bank account information and a “washed” check to withdraw $3,000 in cash from the victim’s account.
In a similar scheme, on April 14, 2023, after once again obtaining another Suffolk County resident’s personal information off the dark web, Archibald entered a TD Bank in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and, similarly, displayed a false driver’s license with a picture of his own face but with the victim’s information. Archibald then cashed a $4,500 “washed” check issued in the victim’s name.
On February 9, 2024, Archibald pleaded guilty to the following charges before Supreme Court Judge Richard Ambro:
- one count of third-degree grand larceny, a Class D felony
- two counts of first-degree identity theft, both Class D felonies
- one count of fourth-degree grand larceny, a Class E felony
- one count of second-degree identity theft, a Class E felony
On March 13, 2024, Ambro ordered Archibald to serve an indeterminate sentence of one to three years in prison.
“Identity theft comes with serious consequences,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “Not only for the thief but also for the victims. No one wants their personal information stolen and used for illegal activities or have their funds wiped out to fund a criminal’s greed. We take these crimes seriously and we will continue to go after those who take advantage of others through such deceptive and invasive means.”