Former Rochester Business Owner Pleads Guilty To Bank Fraud

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Bradley Williams, 35, formerly of Rochester, NY, and now a resident of North Carolina, pleaded guilty to bank fraud, before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant is the owner and operator of 4CIS Inc., located on Rosewood Terrace in Rochester. In that role, Williams maintained a business banking account at M&T Bank. On February 4, 2019, the defendant knowingly deposited 173 counterfeit and forged checks totaling $67,558.00 into his M&T business account. Williams attempted to withdraw the money in the following days, but his account was locked by M&T when it was discovered that the checks were fraudulent. 

The checks were electronically created using the actual names, addresses, and bank account numbers of other individuals, and were made payable to 4CIS in amounts between approximately $385 and $399 each. The victims had no business with the defendant or 4CIS Inc. Further, the victims did not authorize the use of their identifying information for the creation of checks from their accounts and did not authorize any payments to the defendant or 4CIS Inc.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Rochester Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia.

Sentencing is scheduled for September 27, 2021, before Chief Judge Geraci.