California Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Multi-State Identity Theft and Bank Fraud Operation

TUCSON, ARIZONA — A California man has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for his role in a coordinated identity theft and bank fraud operation that spanned multiple states and targeted both individual victims and financial institutions.

Muhammed Drammeh, 30, of Huntington Beach, California, was sentenced on January 27, 2026, to 37 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Angela M. Martinez in the District of Arizona.

Court records show that Drammeh played a central role in a multi-state fraud scheme operating across Arizona, Colorado, and California, using stolen personal identifying information to gain unauthorized access to victims’ financial accounts. Investigators determined that the operation relied on fraudulent identification documents and impersonation to create phony business bank accounts designed to appear legitimate while remaining under the conspirators’ control.

Once the fraudulent accounts were established, the conspirators transferred funds directly from victims’ legitimate bank accounts into the newly created business accounts. The proceeds were then rapidly withdrawn in cash at financial institutions and casinos, a tactic frequently used in organized fraud operations to reduce traceability and accelerate liquidation before banks can detect anomalies.

Drammeh’s role extended beyond participation. According to sentencing materials, he recruited and directed additional conspirators, supplying them with counterfeit identification and coaching them on impersonation techniques. He also supervised co-conspirators as they opened fraudulent accounts and executed withdrawals, placing him in a managerial position within the operation rather than acting as a peripheral participant.

The investigation was conducted by the Tucson field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which traced transaction patterns, identity misuse, and coordinated withdrawals across jurisdictions. The case was prosecuted by the Financial Crimes and Public Corruption Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.

Federal authorities emphasized that schemes of this type inflict layered harm, combining direct financial losses for victims with systemic strain on banking institutions forced to absorb fraud losses, conduct internal investigations, and strengthen compliance controls. Multi-state identity theft rings remain a persistent enforcement focus due to their adaptability, use of recruited intermediaries, and reliance on forged documentation to defeat identity verification safeguards.

Case Number: CR-24-00927-AMM-MSA

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