URBANA, Ill. – Stephanie Lemons, 41, and Tommie Slayton, 34, both of Champaign, are facing a mountain of federal charges after a grand jury indictment revealed a brazen scheme to flood local banks and retailers with counterfeit checks. The pair allegedly operated for six months, raking in an estimated $120,000+ through fraudulent activity.
The Springfield-based federal grand jury returned a scathing 20-count indictment on June 5, 2019, detailing how Lemons and Slayton conspired with others to pass the bogus checks. From July through December 2018, the duo reportedly targeted Walmart stores in both Champaign and Bloomington, Illinois, as well as Heartland Bank, systematically exploiting the financial institutions.
Lemons and Slayton are both charged with one count of conspiracy to commit the scheme. But the charges don’t stop there. Lemons faces a particularly heavy load: six counts of counterfeit securities fraud, six counts of wire fraud, and seven counts of bank fraud. Slayton, in addition to the conspiracy charge, shares the seven counts of bank fraud with his alleged accomplice.
Federal prosecutors aren’t playing around. If convicted, the consequences could be severe. Conspiracy carries a maximum sentence of five years behind bars. Each count of counterfeit securities fraud could add another ten years. Wire fraud carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years *per offense*, and bank fraud could land them up to 30 years in prison. That’s a combined potential sentence stretching well beyond a century.
The investigation, a coordinated effort between the FDIC Office of Inspector General, the Champaign and Urbana Police Departments, and the Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office, has brought the scheme to light. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elly M. Peirson and Meredith T. Reiter are handling the prosecution, and will be tasked with proving the couple’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Arraignment is scheduled for June 19, 2019, in federal court in Urbana. It’s crucial to remember that this indictment is merely an accusation, and both Lemons and Slayton are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any developments.
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Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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