Ameer Clark, a 34-year-old resident of Atlanta, Georgia, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud in federal court in Buffalo. The charge carries a potential maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul E. Bonanno and Sasha Mascarenhas, Clark worked with several co-conspirators—Lorenzo Jones, Quentavious Price, Montez White, and others—to carry out a scheme targeting financial institutions between January and September 2022. Members of the group traveled from Atlanta to the Western District of New York, where they stole genuine checks from local businesses.
The conspirators then used these stolen checks to produce fraudulent ones drawn on the businesses’ accounts. They recruited individuals to cash the fake checks, provided them with clothing such as construction or laborer attire for disguise, and transported them to various banks in the region.
Specific incidents detailed by prosecutors include trips made by members of the group from Atlanta to Buffalo and Rochester during which they attempted to cash fraudulent checks at branches of KeyBank, M&T Bank, Bank on Buffalo, Evans Bank, and Northwest Bank using business accounts based in Elma, Tonawanda, Clarence, Sanborn, Rochester, and Alden.
“If the checks were successfully cashed, the individuals received a small payment,” stated prosecutors.
The total loss associated with this scheme is reported as $64,979.67.
Co-conspirators Lorenzo Jones and Quentavious Price have already been convicted. Charges against Montez White are still pending.
“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,” said U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo.
Sentencing for Clark is set for January 5, 2026 before Judge Vilardo.
