Federal prosecutors say a Dolton man arrested as part of in an identity theft ring that ensnared Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has pleaded guilty.
Leonardo Darnell Zanders, 49, entered the guilty plea on Monday after several witnesses testified at his trial.
According to testimony and court documents, Zanders directed a nationwide fraud scheme to steal from people and financial institutions.
The scheme netted Bernanke after a thief stole his wife's handbag a year ago, getting a checkbook, credit cards and an ID, according to a police report.
At trial on Monday, co-defendant Darrell Earl Price testified that Zanders gave him checks in the name of Ben and Anna Bernanke, and Price used those checks in the scheme.
Zanders will be sentenced on Dec. 18.
