NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Timeiki Hedspeth, 39, of Houston, Texas, is headed to federal prison for nearly 15 years after being convicted of orchestrating a nationwide $6 million fraud scheme preying on unsuspecting Americans. A federal jury found Hedspeth guilty on nine charges on June 30, 2017, bringing a close to a case that began in 2012.
The scheme, originating in Nigeria, targeted individuals across the country with promises of easy money as “Mystery Shoppers.” Participants were lured by email, receiving counterfeit cashier’s checks or Postal money orders with instructions to evaluate money transmission services like Western Union and Money Gram. Hedspeth and her co-conspirators harvested personal identification information from these recruits, using it to create the fraudulent financial instruments.
The process was simple, and sinister. Mystery Shoppers would deposit the fake checks at their banks, keeping a small cut for their “services.” They were then instructed to wire the bulk of the funds to other conspirators, who would siphon off the money and continue the cycle of fraud. From 2010 to 2016, Hedspeth oversaw the distribution of millions of dollars in counterfeit checks and money orders, and personally funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent proceeds.
Hedspeth received a sentence of 175 months – 14 years and 7 months – in federal prison. She wasn’t acting alone. Several co-conspirators have already been sentenced for their roles in the elaborate scam: Toheeb Odoffin (90 months), Zoelithia Williams (100 months), Hafeez Odoffin (110 months), Habeeb Odoffin (120 months), and Christie Easter (130 months). This highlights the scale and organization of the criminal enterprise.
The investigation was a joint effort between the U.S. Secret Service, the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney, and the heads of each investigating agency announced the sentencing following the judgment handed down by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Samuels led the prosecution. Court documents related to the case – Case No. 4:16-cr-49 – are available on the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia website or through PACER. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also maintains a copy of the press release on its website. This case serves as a stark warning: easy money scams are rarely legitimate, and those who participate – even unknowingly – can face severe consequences.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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