Richard A. Raspatello, 54, Kersey, Pennsylvania and Joshua Z. Atwell, 22, Warren, Pennsylvania, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie on a one-count charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, announced United States Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan.

According to the indictment presented to the court, Raspatello and Atwell conspired to defraud financial institutions on numerous occasions throughout the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold, who presented the case to the grand jury, indicated that the law provides for a maximum total sentence of thirty years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.