Prosecutors: Illinois man pleads guilty to ID theft in case that ensnared Bernanke and wife

Man guilty in ID theft that ensnared Ben Bernanke

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Federal prosecutors say an Illinois man has pleaded guilty in an identity theft ring that ensnared Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke as a victim.

Forty-nine-year-old Leonardo Darnell Zanders of Dolton, Ill., 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.

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.