ATLANTA – Sixteen defendants have been indicted for stealing over $10 million in U.S. Treasury checks from the mail and then cashing them at Walmart, Kroger, and other businesses using fake identifications. The defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury on March 11, 2015.
The ring allegedly targeted senior citizens, the disabled, and veterans who had their U.S. Treasury checks stolen from the mail before reaching their intended recipients. "Check fraud is one of the largest challenges facing financial institutions and businesses today," said Reginald G. Moore, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Atlanta Field Office.
The indictment charges the following individuals with conspiracy, theft of U.S. money, and aggravated identity theft: Maurice Shuler, a/k/a Fred, 25, of Atlanta, Georgia; Gino Shuler, 27, of Atlanta, Georgia; Chucky Ransom, 41, of Decatur, Georgia; Sepater Ransom, 27, of Atlanta, Georgia; Damontra Ransom, a/k/a Pop, 20, of Atlanta, Georgia; Milton Minter, a/k/a White Boi, 31, of Riverdale, Georgia; Brian K. Hightower, a/k/a Big, 33, of Stockbridge, Georgia; Angela L. Williams, 40, of Stockbridge, Georgia; Charles E. Bolton, Jr., a/k/a Lightpole Jones, 26, of College Park, Georgia; Mariah C. Clark, 24, of Loganville, Georgia; Lovely Richardson, 27, of Fairburn, Georgia; Osiris O. Hernandez, 23, of Atlanta, Georgia; Kimbela Jordan, 19, of Atlanta, Georgia; Raymon D. Gales, 26, of Atlanta, Georgia; Jeremy Arnold, 28, of Riverdale, Georgia, and Rodrekus R. Harris, 26, of Blakely, Georgia.
The defendants used fake driver’s licenses to pose as the check payees and forged the payees’ signatures on the back of the checks. They also used other individuals’ Social Security numbers to cash the checks. In an effort to avoid detection, the defendants traveled to different states, including Alabama, Mississippi, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Kentucky, Iowa, Louisiana, and Tennessee, to cash the stolen checks.
The indictment charges the defendants with cashing thousands of stolen U.S. Treasury checks worth over $10 million. "Georgia has the unfortunate distinction of being one of the worst states in the nation for stolen U.S. Treasury checks," said Acting U.S. Attorney John Horn. "This crime affects thousands of victims – including senior citizens, the disabled, and veterans – who go to their mailbox looking for a needed check only to discover that it has been stolen by criminals and identity thieves.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Horn, the charges, and other information presented in court: Maurice Shuler and Milton Minter are alleged to have received stolen U.S. Treasury checks that were taken from the mail before reaching their intended recipients. The stolen checks included tax refund, Social Security, and Veteran Benefits checks. After receiving the checks, Shuler and Minter provided them to a network of check cashers, including 14 of the defendants charged here, who negotiated the stolen checks, mainly at Walmart and Kroger stores.
"Social Security payments are a lifeline for many Americans. We are pleased with the aggressive action by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners that resulted in these indictments," said Special Agent in Charge Thomas Caul, SSA/Office of the Inspector General.
Related Federal Cases
- Six Defendants Indicted in Stolen U.S. Treasury Check Ring, Georgia 2015 · Minnesota
- Six Defendants Indicted in Stolen U.S. Treasury Check Ring, Georgia 2015 · Minnesota
- Six Defendants Indicted in Stolen U.S. Treasury Check Ring, Georgia 2015 · Minnesota
- Six Defendants Indicted in Stolen U.S. Treasury Check Ring, Georgia 2015 · Minnesota
- Six Defendants Indicted in Stolen U.S. Treasury Check Ring, Georgia 2015 · Minnesota
Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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