Con Man Donald Hicklin Hits 98-Month Sentence in VA Bank Fraud Plot

Lynchburg, VIRGINIA – In a gritty tale of financial deception, Donald Hicklin, 39, a North Carolina con man, has been handed a 98-month sentence for masterminding a bank fraud and identity theft conspiracy. The revelation comes from the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Lynchburg, as Acting United States Attorney Rick A. Mountcastle made the announcement.

Hicklin, hailing from Charlotte, N.C., had previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. Today’s sentence caps off a saga that has seen his co-conspirator, Mario Clinton, also from Charlotte, receive an 85-month federal prison term for their despicable deeds.

According to Assistant United States Attorney Laura Day Rottenborn and Special Assistant United States Attorney Kari Munro, Hicklin and Clinton were the masterminds behind a scheme that saw them pilfer checks from corporate mailboxes in Virginia and North Carolina. With a keen eye for detail, they altered these documents, creating new payee names and dollar amounts. They then lured unsuspecting individuals – predominantly women – to cash these fraudulent checks at various issuing banks.

Operationally, their reach was vast, stretching from the Virginian coastlines to the heart of Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Tennessee. Their criminal sweeps were relentless, leaving a trail of financial devastation in their wake.

The investigation into this elaborate fraud plot was a collaborative effort by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office, and the Mount Holly, North Carolina Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Laura Day Rottenborn and Special Assistant United States Attorney Kari Munro were instrumental in bringing Hicklin to justice.

With this sentence, the court sends a stark reminder that bank fraud is a serious offense, and those who engage in such schemes can expect severe penalties. Hicklin’s downfall serves as a cautionary tale for others contemplating similar criminal activities.