Source: Office of United States Attorneys
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A Florissant, Missouri, man was sentenced to federal prison after he participated in a scheme to deposit counterfeit checks at an Illinois bank.
Quentin T. Gandy, Jr., 22, pleaded guilty in October to one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
“When criminals steal checks from the mail, commit fraud by washing the check and print fake copies, real people are victimized,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “I appreciate the efforts by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to disband this organized effort to defraud banks.”
According to court documents, Gandy obtained checks from uncharged conspirators who stole authentic checks from the mail. Using the authentic checks, the conspirators created counterfeit checks using the account name, number and routing information.
Gandy knew the checks were counterfeit with forged signatures and admitted to trying to deposit $48,200 into his bank account in O’Fallon, Illinois.
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is dedicated to defending the nation’s mail system from criminal activity, preserving the integrity of the U.S. Mail, and protecting United States Postal Service employees. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service values our law enforcement partners for supporting our mission to protect the integrity of the U.S. Mail,” said Ruth M. Mendonça, Inspector in Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which includes the St. Louis Field Office.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Howard prosecuted the case.