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Prentice Johnson Theft of Government Funds, Atlanta GA, 2017
ATLANTA – A brazen attempt to fleece the U.S. Treasury for over $4.3 million has landed three individuals behind bars. Prentice L. Johnson, Renina Letricia Wortham, a/k/a Renina Simmons-Wortham, and Enobahkare Malik Peterson were each sentenced to two years, four months in federal prison after pleading guilty to theft of government funds. The scheme involved a stolen U.S. Treasury check and a desperate attempt to cash in before the fraud was discovered.
The caper began in late August 2016 when Johnson, then a payroll manager at a private Atlanta company, pilfered a $4,368,869.30 U.S. Treasury check belonging to his employer. The check represented an IRS refund. Johnson’s motivation? He’d caught wind of his impending layoff—a fact revealed by a final paycheck including payment for unused vacation time—and saw an opportunity to line his pockets before being shown the door. It was a gamble, and a spectacularly foolish one.
After grabbing the check, Johnson turned to his half-sister, Renina Wortham, for help cashing it. Wortham, not wanting to handle the hefty sum herself, roped in Enobahkare Malik Peterson. Peterson, realizing the check’s size presented a significant hurdle, then enlisted the aid of *two* additional associates, hoping to spread the risk. Unbeknownst to Peterson, those associates were already in negotiations with federal authorities regarding unrelated criminal charges. Their lawyers promptly alerted law enforcement.
Federal agents moved quickly, confirming the check’s authenticity with the U.S. Treasury and immediately initiating a stop-payment order. An intricate series of undercover operations followed, aimed at identifying the individuals involved. The trail led back to Peterson, but the source of the check – Johnson – remained elusive for a short time. A crucial interview with the CEO of the victim company revealed Johnson’s recent termination, his prior knowledge of the layoff, and his access to the stolen check.
“The defendants wrongly assumed no one would miss a multi-million dollar U.S. Treasury check that was not made out to them,” stated U.S. Attorney John Horn. The sentiment was echoed by Kenneth Cronin, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Atlanta Field Office, who warned, “This sentencing should be a warning to other like-minded criminals and their conspirators that stealing from the American people will not go unpunished.” TIGTA and IRS Criminal Investigations also played key roles in the investigation, emphasizing a unified front against financial crimes.
The case serves as a stark reminder that even seemingly audacious schemes are vulnerable to the combined resources of federal law enforcement. While the trio attempted a high-stakes heist, their efforts were ultimately thwarted, resulting in lengthy prison sentences and a firm message: attempting to steal from the U.S. Treasury is a losing game. The investigation was a joint effort by the U.S. Secret Service, TIGTA, and IRS Criminal Investigations.
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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