June 12, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PITTSBURGH WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FRAUD CHARGES

United States Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan announced today, June 12, 2007, that Shirley Hardy, a resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft.

Hardy, age 48, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Terrence McVerry.

In connection with the guilty plea, Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway advised the court that Hardy participated in a scheme in January 2005 in which counterfeit checks were manufactured and then passed at various financial institutions in the Pittsburgh area using fraudulently obtained identification cards.  Hardy transported several passers of counterfeit checks to financial institutions and provided them with the counterfeit checks and fraudulently obtained identification cards.

Judge McVerry scheduled sentencing for September 21, 2007.  The law provides for a total sentence of 32 years in prison, a fine of $1,250,000, or both.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

The Financial Crimes Task Force of Southwestern Pennsylvania conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Hardy.  The Financial Crimes Task Force of Southwestern Pennsylvania is comprised of United States Postal Inspectors, Special Agents of the United States Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Investigators from the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office, and Detectives from Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh.

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