GRIMY TIMES EXCLUSIVE — Columbus, GA – Wytrenia Reynolds, a 44-year-old resident of Columbus, Georgia, was handed a five-year federal prison sentence for her role in the theft and cashing of stolen Treasury checks. The sentence, which includes 61 months in prison, was announced by United States Attorney Michael J. Moore for the Middle District of Georgia.
Reynolds was convicted following a four-day jury trial on September 25, 2014, for stealing government property, aggravated identity theft, and possession of stolen Treasury checks. Evidence at trial revealed that in September 2010, she cashed or attempted to cash three stolen treasury checks at the Navy Federal Credit Union in Columbus, all payable to individuals in the metro Atlanta area.
Between October and November 2010, Reynolds cashed thirteen more stolen Treasury checks at a local package store. The payees of these checks were also residents of the Atlanta area, with two victims from Alabama.
In January 2011, agents recovered three stolen Social Security checks in a vehicle leased by Reynolds. These checks were payable to elderly victims in Thomaston and Ellenwood, Georgia. The total face value of all checks possessed, cashed, or attempted to be cashed by Reynolds was approximately $515,000.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge Clay D. Land presided over the sentencing on January 27, 2015, ordering Reynolds to pay restitution in the amount of $39,000.00. Speaking on the case, U.S. Attorney Moore emphasized the seriousness of identity theft and its impact on victims, stating, ‘With every check issued or credit card swiped, we are vulnerable to criminals who steal our personal information for their gain.’
Thomas Caul, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of the Inspector General at the Social Security Administration, praised the commitment to investigating and prosecuting those who defraud Social Security trust funds. The case was investigated by Special Agents Teresa Hudson of the United States Secret Service and Pablo Griffiths of the Social Security Administration.
Related Federal Cases
- Columbus Woman Sentenced for $515K in Stolen Treasury Checks · Alabama
- “Ziggy” Yancey Gets 19 Years for Meth & Stolen Gun · Alabama
- ‘White Boi’ Nabbed in $10M Treasury Check Scam · Mississippi
- $20M Stolen Identity Refund Heist Unfolds · Alabama
- Tax Preparers Indicted for Stolen Identity Refund Fraud · Texas
Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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