SHARON, FARRELL

The end is in sight for a federal bank fraud case that netted seven arrests, including five from the Shenango Valley.

Three people have entered guilty pleas, three others are likely to plea, and the seventh defendant, who has been a fugitive, has been arrested, said Assistant U.S. Attorney James V. Moroney, Cleveland.

"We expect to resolve this pretty quick," he said.

Lynette Frieson, 34, of 614 French St., Farrell, pleaded guilty Thursday to a charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud before U.S. District Court Judge Donald C. Nugent, Cleveland, Moroney said.

The government dropped a charge of bank fraud, he said.

Ms. Frieson admitted that she and Charles R. Harris, 31, of 614 French, obtained checks from business and organizations, altered them with a computer to create counterfeit checks, and helped others in obtaining false identification documents to pass them.

Ms. Frieson used the aliases of Tiffany Small and Angela McKnight to pass between $70,000 and $120,000 in counterfeit checks, Moroney said.

Ms. Frieson and Harris used computers at home and at Harris' former clothing store, Chuck and Whole 9 Yards, Sharon.

Ms. Frieson also agreed to cooperate with prosecutors if it goes to trial, Moroney said.

Lori M. Bryant, 31, of 925 Market Ave., Farrell, and Barbara J. McGhee, 61, of Brownsville, Pa., pleaded guilty to conspiracy last month.

Nugent set Ms. McGhee's sentencing for Sept. 16, and Ms. Bryant's for Oct. 2.

Moroney said he wasn't sure if a sentencing date for Ms. Frieson had been set.

Harris is likely to plead at a hearing Tuesday, Moroney said, and a hearing has been set for Monday for Joyce E. Green, 43, of Brownsville, and Phillip "Jiggs" Wells, 30, of 622 Emerson Ave., Farrell, to sign pre-plea agreements.

If the pre-plea agreements are signed, a pre-sentencing investigation would be performed before a guilty plea is entered. Many defendants who choose that option want to see how their criminal history and background would impact the sentence they could receive under federal guidelines, Moroney said.

A hearing would be set for both the entrance of the plea and sentencing, Moroney said.

The last person charged, Craig S. Ison, 39, of Sharon, was arrested July 31 in Maryland.

Ison is facing charges of cocaine distribution in Maryland before he is turned over to federal authorities, Moroney said.

Ison had been a fugitive since May 9, when he did not show up for federal arraignment.

All defendants initially were charged with bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Joe Pinchot at

jpinchot@sharonherald.com