A federal grand jury has indicted a man who allegedly scammed local banks

A federal grand jury has indicted a man who allegedly scammed local banks. Scott Jamie Ashness, 43, of Stewart, Florida, has been charged with 13 crimes for allegedly scamming the Passumpsic Bank in Lyndonville, St. Johnsbury and Island Pond. Several other banks across Vermont were also allegedly scammed when Ashness deposited “fraudulent” checks, according to the federal report. Ashness then asked to withdraw money from the bank accounts. When asked for identification by the bank tellers, Ashness presented an allegedly falsified U.S. passport card containing the alleged victim’s biographical information and Ashness’ photograph. The alleged offenses occurred between Sept. 19 and Sept. 26 in Chittenden, Orleans and Caledonia counties. There were also several victims across the state. Ashness has now been charged with ten counts of bank fraud, two counts of passport fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.