Uniondale woman sentenced to prison for $75K bank loan fraud scheme
Mineola, NY — A Uniondale woman who carried out a series of fraudulent bank loan schemes has been sentenced to prison after prosecutors said she used fake documents and false identities to secure tens of thousands of dollars.
Janelle DeFreitas, 45, was sentenced to between four and eight years in prison after being convicted of grand larceny and criminal possession of a forged instrument, according to the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors said DeFreitas orchestrated a scheme to fraudulently obtain a $75,000 business loan from a bank by using another individual as a front to apply for funding. Authorities determined she submitted falsified corporate records and forged financial documents to support the application.
The investigation revealed that between mid-2021 and early 2022, DeFreitas attempted to secure more than $400,000 in additional loans through multiple applications at different bank branches. Those attempts were unsuccessful after bank officials identified irregularities, including businesses that did not appear to operate from the listed address.
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In August 2021, one loan application was approved, resulting in a $75,000 deposit into a business account. Officials said DeFreitas quickly withdrew a large portion of the funds using cashier’s checks made out to her mother, with the money later used to pay personal expenses.
Authorities said the remaining funds were also spent within weeks, leaving the account nearly depleted before it was closed.
DeFreitas was arrested in December 2023 following an investigation by the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors described the case as part of a broader effort to address financial fraud targeting lending institutions.
She had previously been convicted in November 2025 following a jury trial. Officials noted she was acquitted of one related charge during the proceedings.
The charges and conviction stem from what investigators described as a pattern of fraudulent activity involving multiple individuals and financial institutions.
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Key Points
- Uniondale woman sentenced to 4 to 8 years for bank fraud scheme
- Prosecutors say she obtained $75,000 using forged documents
- Investigators uncovered attempts to secure over $400,000 in additional loans
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