9/19/2004

Three sentenced in $173M bank fraud

MIAMI — Three men were sentenced to prison for their roles in defrauding the Florida branch of Espirito Santo Bank of Portugal of $173 million, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami said.
Dominick Parlapiano, director of a joint venture between the bank and two brothers from Key Biscayne, was sentenced Friday to 121/2 years, prosecutors said. Carlos E. Mendez, the venture’s vice president, got nine years and technology specialist Otto Ambrosiani got five years.
The three were ordered to pay full restitution to Espirito Santo and have agreed to testify against Eduardo and Hector Orlansky, who headed the venture called E.S. Bankest, prosecutors said.