A Danbury, Connecticut man allegedly used counterfeit checks to steal more than $1.5 million in four years from banks in Westchester and throughout the region.
Jorge Enrique Jorge Luciano was accused of conspiracy, wire fraud, and bank fraud in a criminal complaint unsealed on April 15 in U.S. District Court in White Plains.
“Luciano knowingly deposited counterfeit checks into accounts held at numerous financial institutions,” the complaint states, “to obtain funds from the financial institutions for personal use.”
Luciano recruited individuals to use their bank accounts, according to the complaint, created phony checks, deposited the checks, withdrew funds, and shared the money with the recruits.
The scheme required bank accounts that had no history of overdrafts or other red flags of financial misconduct. That way, the bank would likely release funds quickly and before verifying whether the deposits were legitimate.
To ensure a steady supply of such bank accounts, Luciana allegedly posted evidence of success – videos of himself holding stacks of cash at ATM machines – to recruit new conspirators.
In September 2025, for example, Luciano counterfeited four checks totaling $77,731 on an account held in the name of a New York State agency, according to the complaint. Then he deposited the checks  in a bank account held by a Yonkers entity, to which he had no formal connection, and he withdrew $63,000.
Luciano allegedly posted images of himself at ATM machines in New York City and Ridgefield, Connecticut, holding stacks of cash, to recruit new conspirators. “This is not a child’s game,” he stated in Spanish. “63k in 3 days. Young guys, get yourself that [bank] in New York.”
U.S. Postal Inspector Michael Fanelli linked Luciano to the Instagram accounts and to ATM surveillance recordings, based on a distinctive tattoo. A rose and stylized script on his right forearm and hand can be seen as checks were deposited and cash was withdrawn.
The complaint does not identify the banks that were defrauded or name any co-conspirators. And the case docket does not list a defense attorney who could be asked for Luciano’s side of the story.
