(Atlanta, Georgia) – On April 23, 2015, the United States Secret Service Atlanta Field Office arrested eight members of an organized fraud ring accused of stealing over $10 million in U.S. Treasury checks. Five additional targets were already in custody for unrelated arrests. One additional suspect is expected to surrender to authorities later today. The arrests were made in coordination with the United States Postal Inspection Service; Social Security Administration; Office of Inspector General; and Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General.
“Financial fraud is one of the largest challenges facing American citizens and businesses today. The United States Secret Service will continue to collaborate with its law enforcement partners to target and arrest individuals who steal from unsuspecting victims,” said Reginald G. Moore, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Atlanta Field Office.
This case originated in April 2012 when the Secret Service’s Atlanta Field Office was alerted to the mail theft of over $10 million in United States Treasury checks from a United States Postal facility in Atlanta, Georgia. The checks were cashed at Walmart, Kroger, and other businesses with the use of fraudulent identification. The stolen checks included tax refund, Social Security, and Veteran’s benefits checks.
The defendants used false driver’s licenses, forged signatures, and stolen Social Security numbers to cash the checks. To avoid detection, the defendants traveled to Alabama, Mississippi, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Kentucky, Iowa, Louisiana, and Tennessee to cash the stolen checks.
This case continues pending further investigation and judicial action.