Trinity Antonetty, a 24-year-old resident of Boston, pleaded guilty on Mar. 19 in federal court to one count of bank fraud related to a scheme targeting a Massachusetts bank. U.S. District Judge Julia E. Kobick set her sentencing for Aug. 18, 2026.
This case is part of an ongoing investigation into a broader effort to defraud banks across Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Authorities say Antonetty opened a business account between July and October 2024 and allowed Phalentz Vernot to deposit fraudulent cashier’s checks into it. She then used money from one check to purchase another cashier’s check payable to a shell company controlled by Vernot. When the bank froze another suspicious deposit, Antonetty called the institution and falsely claimed she was operating a high-end car dealership with funds related to luxury vehicles.
In July 2025, Vernot and five other men were charged as part of this multi-million-dollar scheme; Vernot pleaded guilty on Dec. 17, 2025. Earlier this month, two more individuals were charged for their roles in the operation.
The charge of bank fraud carries penalties including up to thirty years in prison, five years of supervised release, and fines reaching $1 million or twice the gross gain or loss—whichever is greater—subject to federal sentencing guidelines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the plea alongside officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Boston and New Haven divisions. Local law enforcement agencies from Massachusetts and Rhode Island assisted with the investigation.