Sanford men sentenced in fraud

PORTLAND (AP) — A federal judge has sentenced two Sanford men to prison for stealing about $144,000 in a bank fraud scheme.

Charles E. Emery, 42, was given a six year prison term and Thomas H. Schmook, 28, was sentenced to four years and three months. U.S. District Judge Morton Brody also ordered that the two be placed on five years’ probation following their release.

Emery and Schmook had pleaded guilty to bank fraud and impersonating a federal official.

According to court documents, the two pretended to be Internal Revenue Service agents to obtain information about a Maine man. They then used his name to open accounts at three banks and used checks stolen from a New Hampshire couple to deposit thousands of dollars for their own use.