(WNY News Now) – A 45-year-old Bronx man has been sentenced to 54 months in federal prison for his role in a bank fraud conspiracy involving unauthorized withdrawals and the illegal use of another person’s identification, resulting in $91,300 in actual and intended losses.

Michael Herrera was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara after being convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo.

Federal authorities said the conspiracy began operating in January 2025, when Vance Ashley was recruited in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to impersonate other people and make unauthorized withdrawals from their bank accounts in exchange for payment.

Between Jan. 28 and Feb. 3, 2025, Ashley traveled with Herrera and two other co-conspirators to bank branches in Wilmington, Delaware; Liberty, New York; and Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. During those trips, Ashley used other individuals’ identification to make or attempt unauthorized withdrawals, prosecutors said.

On Feb. 5, 2025, the group traveled to a Northwest Bank branch in Lockport, where Ashley made an unauthorized withdrawal from an account belonging to an Erie, Pennsylvania, resident. Ashley also purchased a bank check using money from the account.

Later that day, the group went to another Northwest Bank branch in Williamsville. Authorities said Ashley again made an unauthorized withdrawal and purchased a bank check using funds from an account belonging to a victim from North East, Pennsylvania.

Prosecutors also said Herrera illegally used another person’s identification during the commission of a felony on Feb. 5, 2025.

The total loss amount, including actual and intended losses, was $91,300, according to federal authorities.

Ashley was previously convicted and sentenced to 27 months in federal prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Bonanno prosecuted the case.

The investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division and Homeland Security Investigations.

The sentence was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.