A man from St. Louis has been handed a significant prison sentence for his role in a widespread check fraud scheme. Valentino Colic, aged 34, received a 145-month federal prison sentence from a southern Illinois district judge. He was implicated in an extensive scheme involving fake cashier's checks used for fraudulent vehicle sales across several counties.
Colic admitted guilt in September to charges that included conspiracy to commit wire fraud and identity theft. After his prison term, he is expected to serve three years of supervised release.
The scheme involved other conspirators, including Alen Saric, 36, who will be sentenced in May after pleading guilty to multiple charges in January. Almir Palic, 25, has already been sentenced to 51 months in February. Another participant, Emad Hasanbegovic, 34, is facing charges of wire fraud conspiracy and identity theft, with a court hearing set for May.
The fraudulent activities involved creating fake cashier’s checks to purchase vehicles from private sellers on platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. These checks were made to appear legitimate using authentic bank names and logos, coupled with fake routing numbers. The scheme ran from 2018 until August 2023, issuing fake checks totaling over $1.7 million.
U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft stressed the importance of verifying checks from unknown parties, urging individuals to confirm with banks before proceeding with transactions. FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson highlighted the investigation's success, emphasizing the collaboration between state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies in bringing those accountable to justice.
The fraudulent operation involved using previous victims' names in vehicle transactions to evade detection. This led to additional financial damage for those repeatedly victimized. The conspirators used over 100 victims across five states to facilitate their illicit activities. Colic and Saric admitted to transporting vehicles across state lines to further the scheme.
The investigation was supported by various law enforcement bodies, including the FBI Springfield Field Office, Metro East Auto Theft Task Force, state police departments, and local law enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter T. Reed.