Mobile Check Fraud Ring Leaders Get 8 Years

MOBILE, AL – A sophisticated check fraud operation targeting businesses and individuals in the Mobile area has landed two ringleaders in federal prison for eight years each. Thomas Charles Bridges, 21, and Errol Michael Gilyot, 22, both of Mobile, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Terry F. Moorer after being convicted for their roles in a scheme that bilked victims out of more than $187,000.

Between November 2021 and April 2023, Bridges, Gilyot, and their crew engaged in widespread bank fraud, preying on checks stolen directly from the U.S. mail. These checks were then altered, counterfeited, and deposited into accounts secured through a calculated recruitment drive. The group leveraged social media and other channels to enlist individuals who willingly provided access to their bank accounts, debit cards, and other vital information – all in exchange for a cut of the illicit profits. Surveillance footage from local banks captured Bridges repeatedly making fraudulent transactions throughout September and October of 2022.

The scheme began to unravel on October 12, 2022, when Mobile Police stopped Bridges and Gilyot after a failed fraudulent transaction at a local bank branch. The search yielded $4,700 in cash and a collection of debit cards not belonging to them. A subsequent federal search of Bridges’ Mobile residence on October 18, 2022, uncovered a laptop, a printer used for counterfeiting, multiple altered checks, and even more stolen debit cards. Investigators discovered a mountain of evidence, including text messages and social media communications detailing the operation and recruitment efforts.

Fingerprint analysis further cemented the case against Bridges and Gilyot, linking their prints directly to checks obtained from victim banks. Disturbingly, Judge Moorer noted that both men continued their fraudulent activities even while released on court-ordered conditions. In addition to the 96-month prison sentences, both Bridges and Gilyot will face five years of supervised release, with strict credit restrictions. They were also ordered to jointly pay $187,941.36 in restitution to the victims, alongside a $200 special assessment each. $5,741 and several electronic devices were forfeited to the United States.

The court also handed down sentences to their accomplices: LiJordan Alexander Lucas (60 months), Tranealius Lashun Abrams (57 months), Emerson Trevaun Striveson, Jr. (33 months), Ashir Davonte-Jovonta Hogue (24 months), and Amartinez Carson (one day). Each received supervised release terms and were ordered to contribute to the restitution. U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama announced the sentencing, highlighting the collaborative effort of multiple agencies.

The investigation was a joint effort by the United States Postal Inspection Service, United States Secret Service, Mobile Police Department, Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, and Jackson Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case, bringing these fraudsters to justice. This case serves as a stark reminder that those who prey on financial institutions and individuals will be held accountable for their crimes.

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