1MINEOLA, NY – A Uniondale woman has been found guilty of grand larceny and forgery charges for orchestrating a $75,000 loan fraud scheme involving fake businesses and falsified documents, Nassau County prosecutors announced.

Janelle DeFreitas, 45, was convicted November 19 after a jury trial before Judge Terence Murphy of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Third Degree.

Prosecutors said DeFreitas used a straw applicant to obtain an express business loan from Dime Bank, then stole the funds after the loan was approved and deposited into a fraudulent business account.

DeFreitas was remanded following the verdict and is scheduled for sentencing on December 18, where she faces up to 15 years in prison as a second felony offender.

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