Charles R. Harris took the unusual tack of thanking the man who prosecuted him on charges of bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud at his sentencing Tuesday in U.S. District Court, Cleveland.

Harris, 32, of 614 French St., Farrell, said he appreciated that Assistant U.S. Attorney James V. Moroney has been "so lenient on me."

The investigation included law enforcement officers in numerous federal, state and local jurisdictions in three states.

"I realize how difficult it is to prosecute my case," Harris said.

As part of a plea agreement, Moroney said Harris has been cooperating with investigators in this case and on other matters, and asked Judge Donald C. Nugent to lessen the penalty scale, which would net Harris less time in prison.

Nugent agreed and sentenced Harris to 27 months in prison.

Under federal guidelines, and taking into account Harris' criminal history -- convictions in Mercer County on charges of theft and driving under suspension -- Nugent could have jailed Harris for between 27 and 33 months.

"I apologize for my misconduct and causing my family all these problems," Harris said.

Harris' attorney, Joseph F. Rafidi of Youngstown, had asked that Harris be granted a week or two of freedom to spend time with his family and get his affairs in order before reporting to begin his jail term.

Nugent denied the request, noting that Harris identified no place where he could stay during that time.

Moroney added that Harris has been unable to post $5,000 bond since his arrest April 29.

Rafidi said he could ask the court to reconsider if Harris' family could come up with the bond, but doubted that would happen.

"They live below the poverty level," Rafidi said of Harris' family.

Nugent also sentenced Harris to pay a $200 special assessment -- $100 for each charge he pleaded guilty to -- and 3 years' supervised release, the federal equivalent of probation.

Harris also must pay $117,672 restitution to seven banks, including First National Bank of Pennsylvania, Sky Bank and National City Bank.

Upon release, Harris will have to pay 10 percent of his gross income for restitution, Nugent said.

Rafidi said the sentence was fair "considering everything."

"The big thing the banks want is their money back," he said.

Harris is one of eight people charged in a scheme that defrauded banks of $250,000 between April 1998 and January 1999.

Moroney said he is seeking restitution from each defendant.

"It will be interesting to see how much restitution we actually get," Moroney said.

Even though the jail term was at the lowest end of the scale, Moroney said he was happy with it.

"Twenty-seven months in a white-collar case is good," he said.

Harris and Lynette Frieson, 35, also of 614 French, hatched a scheme to make counterfeit checks and either cash them or set up accounts in which to deposit them and collect the money later.

The couple bought a computer and software to make copies of the checks and alter them, and helped others to secure false identification documents so they could cash the checks at banks in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.

They obtained sample checks from Youngstown State University and existing businesses.

In some cases, documents such as Social Security cards and marriage licenses were bought for as little as $20, and used to get IDs under the false names.

Harris owned the clothing store Chuck and the Whole 9 Yards, which opened in Farrell and later moved to Sharon, and had a business account at First National Bank.

Joyce E. Green, 43, of Brownsville, cashed two $3,000 starter checks under a false name, and Harris filed a false police report in an attempt to force the bank to recredit his account.

Of those also charged:

   » Barbara J. McGhee, 61, of Brownsville, Pa., pleaded guilty July 8 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and was sentenced Sept. 18 to 6 months' home confinement, 2è years' supervised released, $100 special assessment, and $5,640 restitution.

   » Ms. Frieson, who has been staying at 250 Orchard St., Sharon, pleaded guilty Aug. 15 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Her sentencing has been delayed at least once and a new date has not been set.

   » Ms. Green, 43, of Brownsville, and Phillip "Jiggs" Wells, 30, of 622 Emerson Ave., Farrell, signed pre-plea agreements Aug. 20, allowing pre-sentence investigations to be completed before they enter pleas. The PSIs have been completed but no plea dates have been set, Moroney said. They will be sentenced at the same time they enter pleas.

   » Lori M. Bryant, 31, of 925 Market Ave., Farrell, pleaded guilty July 29 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. She also was to be sentenced Tuesday, but her hearing was postponed as she recovers from complications from giving birth, Moroney said. No new date has been set.

   » Craig Ison, 39, formerly of Sharon, has been charged with bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Nugent has asked Montgomery County, Maryland, authorities to bring Ison in for arraignment. Ison recently was convicted of cocaine distribution and has been sentenced to 18 months in prison, Moroney said. U.S. Marshals are working out arrangements to bring Ison to Cleveland.

All seven were indicted April 10.

"I would expect all of these cases to be resolved by Thanksgiving," Moroney said.

Indicted separately was Devonna Childress, 29, formerly of Farrell. She pleaded guilty April 16, 1999, to a charge of bank fraud and was sentenced to 1 day in prison, 3 years' supervised release, $100 special assessment and restitution of $14,419.

Ms. Childress, currently of Shenango Township, was a bank teller at Bank One, Youngstown, and was recruited into the scheme by Harris and Ms. Frieson . She cashed four checks totaling $14,420 for Harris and Ms. Frieson, and received $1,000 of the proceeds.

In April, Judge Peter C. Economus, Youngstown, extended Ms. Childress' supervised release by 1 year because she was not paying restitution.

She had paid only $200, and was ordered to pay at least $50 a month.

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Joe Pinchot at

jpinchot@sharonherald.com