The Herald Bulletin

One of two California men arrested in Madison County and indicted on federal bank fraud charges connected to a multi-state scheme was sentenced to four years in prison Wednesday.

U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker sentenced Bryon L. Ashlock, 36, after he pleaded guilty to bank fraud, according to a news release from acting U.S. District Attorney Timothy M. Morrison. Ashlock, of Santa Clarita, Calif., was also ordered to serve five years of supervised released once his prison time is complete and pay $87,300 in restitution.

Ashlock’s alleged partner, Dale M. Parenteau, 70, of Los Angeles, was indicted on bank fraud charges in October. Parenteau is expected to plead guilty and be sentenced at 10 a.m. Tuesday, court officials said Wednesday. He faces up to 30 years in prison.

Federal prosecutors allege Parenteau used forged bank documents to defraud the businesses. If convicted, Parenteau could face 45 years in prison.

Ashlock and Parenteau were arrested in early February 2007 along Interstate 69 near Anderson in a rented 2007 Cadillac DeVille.

Ashlock allegedly used a fraudulent credit card to rent the Cadillac at Indianapolis International Airport. Since a false credit card was used, the rental company reported the car as stolen. The rental agency then tracked the vehicle using a Global Positioning System device and notified the Indiana State Police, who took the two into custody.

Parenteau told investigators the pair had been in Fort Wayne, using fake IDs but real bank account information, to cash checks at various banks. They were on their way to Indianapolis, then back to California, when they were apprehended.

Parenteau told police he was panhandling on a California off-ramp, holding a sign that said, "Homeless will work," in January 2006 when Ashlock pulled up in a Mercedes-Benz, gave him $20 and asked him if he wanted a job, according to court documents. Ashlock created the fake ID cards and matching Social Security cards for Parenteau to use.

Ashlock paid Parenteau $1,000 for each trip to the Midwest, according to Wednesday’s news release. The two targeted JP Morgan Chase Bank branches in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky.