A Hartford man, Ronnie Bonner, has been sentenced to two years in prison for defrauding credit unions and banks through an auto loan scheme. The announcement was made by Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut. U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill delivered the sentence in Bridgeport.
Court documents reveal that between September 2014 and February 2015, while employed as a sales associate at an automobile dealership in Simsbury, Bonner applied for 19 loans under his name and those of acquaintances to purchase vehicles identified by specific Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs). In most cases, no vehicle was actually purchased. Instead, Bonner cashed or deposited the loan disbursement checks and typically made several payments before ceasing them altogether. Through this fraudulent activity, he obtained $646,351.38 in loan proceeds.
Judge Underhill has ordered Bonner to pay restitution amounting to $395,124.40.
Bonner was arrested on November 5, 2020, and pleaded guilty to financial institution fraud on April 27, 2023. He is currently out on a $25,000 bond but must report to prison on May 7.
The investigation involved the U.S. Secret Service, the Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force, the Hartford Police Department, and the Connecticut State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen prosecuted the case.