Alvin R. Simmons, 56, of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, walked out of federal court with a time-served sentence after being convicted of bank fraud, the Department of Justice confirmed today. The ruling caps a scheme that stretched across post offices and banking institutions in western Pennsylvania.
Simmons used counterfeit personal checks to rip off banks and buy postage stamps in bulk, exploiting a blind spot between financial and postal systems. The fraud targeted Citizens Bank and First Niagara Bank, with forged instruments deposited or cashed to fuel a criminal run that eventually drew federal heat.
The scam unraveled thanks to a coordinated probe led by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which tracked irregular stamp purchases tied to falsified banking instruments. Investigators found a pattern: Simmons would deposit or pass fake checks at Post Office locations, then pocket the change in the form of stamps — a low-tech but costly hustle.
U.S. District Judge Donetta W. Ambrose handed down the time-served sentence, closing the chapter on Simmons’ federal conviction. No restitution amount or additional penalties were disclosed in the DOJ release, leaving questions about the total financial toll on the defrauded institutions.
Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song, who oversaw the case out of the Western District of Pennsylvania, credited the Postal Inspection Service for their dogged work. “This prosecution sends a message,” Song said in a statement. “Fraud is not victimless, and we will pursue those who exploit public and financial trust.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory C. Melucci handled the prosecution. Authorities did not indicate whether Simmons has prior convictions or whether related charges are pending. The case remains open to civil follow-up, though no further criminal action is expected at this time.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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