Ecuadoran National In Danbury Charged In $200K Treasury Fraud Case

DANBURY, CT — An Ecuadoran national who federal authorities said was unlawfully residing in the United States has been charged in connection with more than $200,000 in fraudulent U.S. Treasury checks.

Edison Jovanny Duta Pindo, 43, who resided in Danbury, faces seven federal charges related to the theft of U.S. Treasury funds, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut.

Prosecutors said Pindo maintained accounts at Newtown Savings Bank in his name and in the name of Home Services Pro LLC, a business registered in Connecticut.

On April 23, 2024, Pindo deposited a fraudulent U.S. Treasury check for $53,780.49, made payable to Home Services Pro LLC and Edison Jovanny Duta, into the company's account, according to the indictment.

The following day, prosecutors said Pindo made two $15,000 withdrawals from Newtown Savings Bank branches in Brookfield and Bethel.

On May 14, 2024, Pindo deposited a second fraudulent U.S. Treasury check for $150,597.28 into the business account and transferred $50,000 from the business account to his personal account that same day, according to prosecutors.

A federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment in December charging Pindo with two counts of bank fraud, three counts of making illegal monetary transactions and two counts of passing counterfeit obligations.

Each bank fraud charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 30 years. The illegal monetary transaction charges each carry a maximum of 10 years, while each charge of passing counterfeit obligations carries a maximum of 20 years.

Pindo was arrested in Danbury on July 16 and has remained detained since his arrest, according to federal prosecutors.