EVENT: Guilty Plea

Defendant: John G. Bergin

MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO BANK FRAUD
THAT FUNDED HIS CASINO GAMBLING

A resident of suburban Chicago pleaded guilty today to one count of bank fraud in connection with a scheme to obtain funds to gamble at a Detroit casino, United States Attorney Stephen J. Murphy announced.

John G. Bergin, 42, entered the guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Lawrence P. Zatkoff. At the plea hearing, Bergin admitted that he made bogus deposits into his savings account at Think Federal Credit Union by depositing empty deposit envelopes into ATMs located in Oakland County. This fraudulently inflated his account balance and enabled Bergin to withdraw cash from ATMs in metropolitan Detroit and purchase merchandise using his ATM/debit card. All of the fraudulent activity occurred in March 2006. Bergin used most of the fraudulent proceeds, which totaled $80,000, at the Motor City Casino.

Under his plea agreement with the government, Bergin faces up to 18 months’ imprisonment, a 5-year term of supervised release, and a $30,000 fine. He will also be ordered to pay full restitution to Think Federal Credit Union. He is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Zatkoff on April 12.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the FBI, and the case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Hiyama.