Lanham Man Convicted in Banking Scheme Faces $1M Fine

LANHAM, MD – Junaidu Saljan Savage, 29, of Lanham was convicted Tuesday for his role in a banking scheme that fraudulently used account holder's personal information.

He was convicted of conspiring to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to the Department of Justice.

Savage faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a fine of $1 million for bank fraud conspiracy, as well as a consecutive mandatory sentence of two years in prison for aggravated identify theft. Savage's sentencing is scheduled for June 24.

Testimony from a six-day trial showed Savage conspired with Jayad Zainab Ester Conteh, Paul Anthony Williams, Paul Anthony Wilson and others to defraud a bank.

Evidence from the trial showed that at least seven bank accounts were compromised with intended losses of more than $120,000.

Working as a bank teller, Conteh, 24, shared account holder information with Savage and the other conspirators. Savage would then call the bank pretending to be the account holders in order change information and to purchase checks. The conspirators would obtain the checks and cash them at different bank branches in Maryland.

Wilson, 53, was arrested attempting to cash a check of one of the victims. He was sentenced 39 months in prison after pleading guilty for his role in the conspiracy.

Conteh was convicted and sentenced to 64 months in prison for conspiring to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft and unauthorized access to a computer to obtain banking information. She was also ordered to pay $36,400 in restitution to the victim bank and forfeit $36,400.

In July 2014, audio and video was recorded of Savage telling Conteh's relatives of his involvement in the conspiracy and that he would pay the restitution. In August 2014, Savage's girlfriend sent $6,000 to Conteh's family.