Related Federal Cases
Bank Fraud Ring Busted in Lynchburg, Virginia
A brazen bank fraud scheme that targeted corporate mailboxes in Virginia and North Carolina has been dismantled, with a key player receiving a stiff sentence for his role in the conspiracy.
Donald Hicklin, a 39-year-old resident of Charlotte, North Carolina, was sentenced to 98 months in federal prison for his involvement in the massive check cashing scheme. Hicklin, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, was one of the masterminds behind the operation.
According to court documents, Hicklin and his accomplices, including Mario Clinton, who was sentenced to 85 months in federal prison in January 2016, stole checks from corporate mailboxes in business districts and altered them to reflect new payees and dollar amounts.
The duo then recruited unsuspecting individuals, often women, to cash the fraudulent checks at issuing banks. Their operation spanned multiple states, including Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Tennessee.
The investigation, led 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, uncovered a sophisticated scheme that preyed on the unsuspecting public.
Assistant United States Attorney Laura Day Rottenborn and Special Assistant United States Attorney Kari Munro prosecuted the case, bringing the perpetrators to justice and sending a strong message to would-be fraudsters.
The sentence handed down to Hicklin serves as a warning to those who would engage in similar schemes, highlighting the severity of the consequences for committing bank fraud and identity theft.
Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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