Elgin Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges

ROCKFORD —(ENEWSPF)–June 24, 2016. An Elgin resident pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Kapala to federal fraud charges.

STEPHEN T. ANGERMAN, 48, pleaded guilty to bank fraud, money laundering, and testifying falsely in a bankruptcy case.

According to the written plea agreement, from December 2009 through March 31, 2010, Angerman schemed to fraudulently obtain a $510,000 loan from Alliant Credit Union and a $64,590 loan from Prairie Community Bank in order to purchase a home on Wrenwood Circle in Elgin. Angerman admitted to making false statements on his loan application to Alliant about his employment, assets, and liabilities. Further, Angerman admitted to submitting fictitious bank account statements, pay stubs, and a W-2 earnings form, and a fraudulent Certificate of Gift form to the credit union in support of his application. Alliant issued the loan based upon Angerman’s representations.

Angerman admitted that in December 2009 and January 2010, he applied for and obtained a $64,590 loan from Prairie Community Bank by pledging a 2008 Chevrolet Corvette as collateral without disclosing that the Corvette was subject to a prior lien of approximately $40,000 held by another bank.

With regard to the money laundering charge, Angerman admitted that on March 23, 2010, he transferred most of the proceeds, $64,500, from his checking account at Allied Credit Union to an account in the name of a relative at a different bank in an attempt to conceal his bank fraud against Prairie Community Bank.

On Jan. 3, 2011, Angerman filed for bankruptcy in Rockford. Angerman admitted that on Feb. 7, 2011, he falsely testified under oath at a meeting of creditors by stating he did not own any real estate other than what he had listed in his bankruptcy schedules, and that he did not own a car, when in fact he owned the home on Wrenwood Circle in Elgin and the Corvette.

Angerman faces up to 30 years’ imprisonment for bank fraud, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 5 years. For money laundering, Angerman faces a sentence of up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $500,000, and a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years. Angerman also is subject to a civil penalty of twice the value of the property involved in the transaction. For falsely testifying in his bankruptcy case, Angerman faces up to 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and supervised release of up to 3 years. The judge must also order Angerman to pay restitution. Sentencing is set for Oct. 3, 2016, at 2:30 p.m.

The guilty plea was announced by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Michael J. Anderson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of Federal Bureau of Investigation; and James D. Robnett, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Pedersen.