CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE -- Rebecka Ayers, a 29-year-old resident of 51 Penacook Street in Manchester, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty to bank fraud yesterday.

During a hearing in U.S. District Court, Ayers admitted that in April 2005, she cashed 33 counterfeit checks at different branch offices of the Bank of America in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Made payable to Ayers, the checks were purportedly issued from a legitimate checking account belonging to an entity known as Boston 2004, Inc.

Ayers is scheduled to be sentenced by Chief United States District Court Judge Steven McAuliffe on September 18, 2006. The maximum penalties for bank fraud are 30 years in jail and a fine of $1 million.

After Ayers pleaded guilty U.S. Attorney Colantuono said, “It doesn’t matter whether a scheme is simple or complicated, anyone who uses dishonest means to steal money from a federally insured bank will be caught and prosecuted.”

He also thanked Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kenneth W. Kaiser for his agency’s investigation in this matter.