NJ woman accused of opening bank account in CT with fake ID to deposit stolen U.S. Treasury check

A New Jersey woman is accused of using a stolen identity to open an account at a Connecticut credit union where she allegedly attempted to deposit of a stolen U.S. Treasury check worth over $400,000.

A federal grand jury in Bridgeport returned an indictment on Sept. 3 charging Madisyn Pettaway, 30, of Newark, New Jersey, with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud, offenses that carry a maximum term of 30 years in prison on each count; theft of government property, an offense that carries a maximum term of 10 years; and aggravated identity theft, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive term of two years, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Pettaway appeared Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria E. Garcia in New Haven and was released on a $100,000 bond, court records show.

According to court records, Pettaway allegedly use a stolen identity and a fraudulent New Jersey driver’s license to open an account at a branch of Charter Oak Federal Credit Union on Aug. 27, 2024.  On Sept. 13, 2024, Pettaway allegedly attempted to deposit a U.S. Treasury check for $410,085.48 at the credit union. Court records show that Charter Oak FCU ultimately did not accept the deposit.

Investigators also allege that, in June 2025, Pettaway opened another account at a branch of Charter Oak FCU using a fraudulent identity, according to court records.

Pettaway was arrested by the East Lyme Police Department on July 28 and charged with state offenses, court records show. According to court records, she was allegedly in possession of a fake New York driver’s license and three debit cards in the name of the fraudulent identity at the time of her arrest.

Pettaway was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on August 20, court records show.

https://www.courant.com/2025/09/12/nj-woman-accused-of-opening-bank-account-in-ct-with-fake-id-to-deposit-a-stolen-u-s-treasury-check/