From The Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM — Today, a father and son were arrested and charged in a bank fraud scheme in which they provided fraudulent information to financial institutions for the purpose of purchasing boats, luxury vehicles, and heavy equipment.
According to the indictment, from 2015 through February 2020, the Montalbano’s conspired to submit fraudulent information regarding their income to numerous financial institutions in support of numerous fraudulent loan applications to purchase boats, luxury vehicles and heavy equipment. The defendants submitted fraudulent personal and corporate financial statements, tax returns, pay stubs, W-2s, invalid Hull Identification Numbers (HINs), and invalid Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) in support of the loan applications. In addition, the defendants applied for and obtained multiple loans for the purpose of purchasing a luxury vehicle without disclosing that they had already financed the purchase of the same luxury vehicle with a different financial institution. The funds obtained from the fraudulent loans were used to pay for personal living expenses and make loan payments owed to other financial institutions.
In March 2018 and September 2018, Christopher Montalbano fraudulently used the identity of another individual on an application for loans submitted to USAA Bank.
The indictment also charges Christopher Montalbano with bank fraud due to the violation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. On April 29, 2020, Montalbano submitted to Cross River Bank a fraudulent PPP loan application for LSA Corporation. Montalbano fraudulently represented that the funds he sought for LSA Corp. would “be used to retain workers and maintain payroll or make mortgage interest payments, lease payments, and utility payments” when, in fact, he intended to use the funds he obtained from the PPP for personal expenses. On April 30, 2020, Cross River Bank approved and deposited $58,153.00 into the LSA Corporation’s bank account.