Opinion ID: 221339
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Indictment and Pleas

Text: On February 18, 2009, Samuels was arrested in California. Erwin was arrested, also in California, on February 26, 2009. Both were remanded to federal custody and transported to Michigan. On March 19, 2009, Erwin and Samuels were added, by way of a first superseding indictment, to a four count indictment filed in the Western District of Michigan. The indictment charged: I) conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 371 and 1349, for acts committed in the Western District of Michigan between May 31, 2007 and January 9, 2009; II) bank fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344, for acquiring fraudulent identification documents and using them to make fraudulent cash withdrawals; III) wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343, for use of the internet and GPS units in the commission of fraud; and IV) aggravated 4 Nos. 10-1103, 10-1843 identity theft in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A, for using the names, dates of birth, and social security numbers of certain individuals to commit wire and bank fraud.3 On October 13, 2009, Erwin pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, as charged in the second superseding indictment, pursuant to a written plea agreement. Erwin agreed to cooperate with law enforcement; in exchange, the government agreed to move to dismiss the remaining charges, not oppose Erwin’s motion for an acceptance of responsibility reduction, and evaluate Erwin for a § 5K1.1 reduction for substantial assistance. On November 12, 2009, Samuels pleaded guilty to all four counts as charged in the second superseding indictment, without the benefit of a plea agreement.