Alan Paul Brooks, Check Diversion, Florida 2023

MIAMI, FL – Alan Paul Brooks, a 75-year-old resident of Aventura, Florida, is facing federal charges after allegedly masterminding a brazen scheme to steal over $3 million in checks destined for a Louisiana health system. Brooks was indicted by a Miami federal grand jury on counts of mail fraud and money laundering, federal authorities announced Friday.

The indictment details a calculated operation spanning June to December 2022. Brooks allegedly filed a change of address with the U.S. Postal Service, redirecting mail intended for the Louisiana health system to a post office box under his control. This rerouting allowed him to intercept checks before they reached their legitimate recipient.

But the scheme didn't stop at redirection. Brooks allegedly created a Florida shell company and registered fictitious operating names that mirrored those of the regional medical centers within the Louisiana health system. He then opened bank accounts in Aventura using these deceptive names, depositing the intercepted checks – totaling over $3 million – into these accounts. Once the funds cleared, he allegedly transferred them to other accounts he controlled, effectively laundering the stolen money.

The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) Miami Field Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Miami Division, and the Aventura Police Department. Special Agent in Charge Kyle A. Myles of FDIC-OIG, Special Agent in Charge Rafael Barros of USSS, and acting Inspector in Charge Juan A. Vargas of USPIS all played key roles in uncovering the fraud. Aventura Police Chief Michael Bentolila also contributed to the investigation.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida is prosecuting the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael N. Berger leading the charge. Asset forfeiture is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marx Calderon, signaling an intent to recover the stolen funds. The case is currently documented under case number 23-cr-20117 in the District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Brooks is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Court documents related to the case are available for public review at www.flsd.uscourts.gov and through the PACER system at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

Source: https://www.secretservice.gov/newsroom/releases/2023/03/75-year-old-south-florida-man-charged-3-million-check-diversion-scheme