Anthony E. Johnson, Counterfeit Check Cashing Scheme, Louisiana 2019

A Shreveport man has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for his role in a counterfeit check cashing scheme.

Anthony E. Johnson, 27, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. to 30 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $110,773 in restitution.

According to information introduced in court, Anthony Johnson conspired with Carlos A. Spann and Phelix Williams, both of Shreveport, in a scheme to cash counterfeit checks using fraudulent identities at banks and retail establishments throughout Louisiana in 2017 and 2018.

Johnson pleaded guilty on January 17, 2019, in U.S. District Court. The court ordered that Johnson comply with the requirements of the U.S. Probation Office in connection with his pretrial supervised release and was allowed to remain on bond until his sentencing hearing, which was scheduled for May 1, 2019.

However, Johnson failed to comply with the conditions of pretrial supervision, and a warrant was issued for his arrest in March 2019. Officers with the Shreveport Police Department arrested Johnson in September 2022 on an unrelated charge and learned of the warrant for Johnson. He was returned to the custody of the U.S. Marshal to face the charges in this case.

The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, Shreveport Police Department, and Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Flanagan and Alexander C. Van Hook, Special Counsel to the U.S. Attorney.

Johnson’s sentence brings an end to a scheme that involved the use of fraudulent identities and counterfeit checks to defraud banks and retail establishments across Louisiana. The scheme resulted in a total loss of $110,773.

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