Michelle Fletcher, 33, Coral Springs, Florida, has been charged for allegedly obtaining business loans from four banks based upon loan applications which contained false statements. Fletcher is charged with three counts of committing fraud on a financial institution. The information alleges that Fletcher obtained loans from National City Bank, Regions Bank and Peninsula Bank for a business which she falsely claimed to own for two or more years, to be engaged in consulting, and to have gross receipts of more than $1.3 million during the year prior to the applications for the loans. The information goes on to allege that loans totaling $400,000 were sought and based on the false information provided to the banks, loans in the amount of $200,000 were approved.

Defendants charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and substantive wire fraud can face up to 30 years incarceration and a $1 million fine for each count along with restitution.

Jeffrey H. Sloman, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office, Michael K. Fithen, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service, and J. Thomas Cardwell, Commissioner, State of Florida's Office of Financial Regulations, announced the fraud charges.

"Through hard work and coordination with our law enforcement partners, the United States Attorney's Office will continue to prosecute those who commit bank and mortgage fraud," said Jeffrey H. Sloman, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida.