Columbia, SC – In a shocking turn of events, Crystal Lynn Norris, a 27-year-old resident of Florence, South Carolina, has entered a guilty plea in federal court on charges of Conspiracy to Manufacture and Pass Forged and Counterfeited Securities.
According to the evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing, Norris was involved in a conspiracy to manufacture and pass forged and counterfeited securities (checks) of organizations from November through December of 2016.
Norris and an accomplice stole mail from mailboxes at various residences in Florence and Darlington Counties, looking for checks within the mail. Norris then either altered/forged the stolen checks by substituting herself as the payee or used genuine bank account and routing numbers from the stolen checks to make counterfeit checks.
She then went to banks in Florence and Easley, SC, and presented the forged and counterfeited checks for payment.
Ms. Drake stated that the maximum penalty Norris can receive is imprisonment for 5 years and a fine of $250,000.
The case was investigated by agents of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with the assistance of the Florence County Sheriff’s Office, the Florence Police Department, and the Easley Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney A. Bradley Parham of the Florence office prosecuted the case.
United States Attorney Beth Drake stated, ‘This guilty plea highlights the importance of our efforts to combat fraud and other white-collar crimes in our community.’
Norris will be sentenced after the presentence report is prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
Key Facts
- State: South Carolina
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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