Malik Wright, Tony Hutchinson, Joseph D. Jackson, Bank Fraud, Utah 2020
Utah Bank Fraud Scheme Exposed
Malik Wright, Tony Hutchinson, and Joseph D. Jackson, all 22-year-old residents of Atlanta, Georgia, have been charged with a 28-count federal complaint in a Utah bank fraud scheme. The scheme targeted homeless individuals to facilitate their crimes.
The complaint alleges that the defendants traveled from Atlanta to various states, including Utah, in rental cars. They obtained bank account numbers and bank routing information for checking accounts for several businesses, including stealing checks from the mail. Jackson and other conspirators used the stolen information to make counterfeit checks that were drawn against the victim businesses' accounts.
According to the complaint, Jackson directed Wright and Hutchinson to the location of homeless shelters. Wright and Hutchinson then targeted homeless individuals, who had government-issued identification cards, to act as check cashers of the counterfeit checks. Once Wright and Hutchinson identified viable check cashers, conspirators, including Jackson, made counterfeit checks payable to the check cashers. Wright and Hutchinson took the check cashers to a Walmart and purchased clothing for them to change into so they would not appear to be homeless individuals, according to the complaint.
As a result of these efforts, Zions Bank lost $11,882.73 on December 10, 2019, and $9,893.10 the following day. Law enforcement officers stopped Wright and Hutchinson on December 11, 2019, after employees at a Layton branch of Zions Bank alerted police that an individual was in the bank attempting to cash a fraudulent check. The suspect fled the bank and got into a Silver GMC Yukon. Officers were able to find the vehicle and conduct a traffic stop. Wright and Hutchinson were in the front seats of the vehicle.
Defendant Information
Defendant Name: Malik Wright, Tony Hutchinson, Joseph D. Jackson
Criminal Charges: One count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, 15 counts of possession of counterfeit securities, and 12 counts of aggravated identity theft
City and State: Atlanta, Georgia; Salt Lake City, Utah
Exact Date: December 10, 2019; December 11, 2019
Sentence or Outcome: Currently in custody in Utah
Dollar Amounts: $13,860.95; $11,882.51; $11,882.73; $9,893.10
Key Facts
- State: Utah
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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