Secaucus Man Ran Identity Theft, Bank Fraud Scheme, Feds Charge

SECAUCUS, NJ — At a time when everyone is warned how dangerous — and common — identity can be, a Secaucus man is among four people charged by federal prosecutors in an identity theft and bank fraud scheme.

The criminal charges were announced Thursday by U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger. FBI agents investigated this case.

Marc Lazarre, 37, is the Secaucus resident. He is currently in a federal prison.

He was charged alongside Fritzgerald Steide, 28, of Valley Stream, New York; Mohammed Khan, 32, of Elmont, New York and Andrea Lewis, 29, of Inwood.

All four have been indicted on one count of conspiracy to engage in bank fraud. Lazarre is also charged with one count of bank fraud and three counts of aggravated identity theft. You can read the indictment against all four of them here: https://content.govdelivery.co... The indictment was just unsealed Wednesday, May 3.

According to federal prosecutors, Lazarre used stolen bank account and PIN information to open bank accounts in victims’ names without their knowledge.

He would then transfer funds from the victims’ actual financial accounts to the accounts he opened, and then withdrew the funds, said prosecutors.

Lazarre also unlawfully obtained or fabricated checks made out to victims, used fraudulent identification documents to open accounts in names almost identical to the victims’ names, and then cashed the unlawfully obtained or fabricated checks.

The scheme occurred from September 2021 through October 2022.

The feds say Lazarre conducted the scheme with the help of Steide and Khan, both of whom were employees of an Oceanside, Long Island branch of a local bank. The bank was unnamed.

Prosecutors say Lazarre sent victims’ personal identifiable information to Steide and Khan, who in turn used the info. to determine whether those individuals had bank accounts with that Oceanside bank.

Khan worked as customer service representative at the bank and he received documents that he knew reflected stolen personal identifiable information from Lazarre. Steide advised Lazarre on how to avoid detection, including telling him when a conspirator should arrive at the bank to meet with Khan.

Police say Lewis impersonated numerous victims using false forms of identification provided by Lazarre. On at least one occasion, Lewis communicated with Lazarre in real time for assistance with responding to a bank representative’s questions regarding her purported identity.

They are facing up to 30 years in prison.