WICHITA, KS – Deantra Lamar Watson, 42, of Wichita, Kansas, received a sentence of time served today after pleading guilty to a multi-faceted financial crime scheme involving counterfeit currency, fictitious U.S. Treasury checks, and the creation of fraudulent identification documents. Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon handed down the sentence, with Watson facing a five-year term of Supervised Release following his release from the approximately nine months he’s already served.
The bust originated on September 2, 2021, when deputies in Richardson County, Nebraska, pulled Watson over. A subsequent search of his vehicle revealed a counterfeit cash haul of $3,434.00. But the fake bills were just the beginning. Authorities also discovered $4,800 in bogus U.S. Treasury checks falsely presented as COVID Economic Impact Payments – a brazen attempt to exploit pandemic relief funds.
Watson’s operation extended beyond simple paper fraud. Deputies found a cache of fabricated driver’s licenses featuring Watson’s photograph superimposed onto the information of other individuals. A book bag contained blank white plastic cards equipped with magnetic stripes and chips, along with printed images designed to mimic Kansas driver’s licenses. These images, printed on adhesive-backed paper, were intended to be affixed to the blank cards, creating convincing fake IDs. A printer specifically used to produce these fraudulent identifications was also recovered.
“Today’s sentence is a reminder that the United States Secret Service is committed to aggressively investigating and pursuing those who commit financial crimes against citizens of our communities,” stated Brandon C. Bridgeforth, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Kansas City Field Office. “The success in this case demonstrates the investigative capabilities of the Secret Service and the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners.” The case highlights the agency’s ongoing fight against the proliferation of counterfeit currency and related financial schemes.
This investigation comes as part of a broader federal effort to combat pandemic-related fraud. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, dedicated to leveraging resources across the Department of Justice and other agencies to investigate and prosecute those exploiting the pandemic for financial gain. The Task Force aims to identify and dismantle fraudulent schemes, protect relief programs, and bring perpetrators to justice.
The United States Secret Service, working in conjunction with the Richardson County Sheriff’s Office and the Omaha Police Department, successfully dismantled Watson’s operation. Anyone with information regarding COVID-19 related fraud is urged to report it to the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or through the NCDF Web Complaint Form at justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. The federal system offers no parole, meaning Watson will be subject to strict supervision for five years upon completion of his sentence.
Related Federal Cases
- Jeffrey Walsh, Uttering Counterfeit Obligations, South Dakota 2013 · Nebraska
- Live Nation, Antitrust Lawsuit, New York NY, 2024 · Oregon
- Gerald C. Bryce Sentenced to 18 Months for Mail Fraud, Raymond NE, … · Kansas
- Thomas Whitlow, Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Wire Fraud, Lin… · Nebraska
- Paul D. Martin, Selling Misbranded Cancer-Risk Drugs Online, Kearne… · Kansas
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News