SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A sinister scheme to steal from banks and credit unions in Utah has been brought to justice. Toddorius Goodwin, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment for his role in a $200,000 check fraud scheme.
On August 13, 2024, Goodwin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity fraud. The scheme, which took place from April to October 2022, involved Goodwin and his associates traveling from Georgia to Utah several times to engage in a sophisticated check fraud operation.
According to court documents and statements at Goodwin’s sentencing hearing, the group recruited impoverished individuals locally to take on the risk of physically cashing the forged checks and potentially facing arrest. The scheme was a proactive, well-planned, and team-orchestrated crime.
Goodwin and his associates stole payroll checks from private mailboxes, altered the ‘payable to’ names on the checks to the recruited individual’s name, and sent that individual into various banks to cash the forged checks in exchange for a small cut of the profit. Goodwin and his associates successfully cashed at least $214,179.51 worth of counterfeit checks in Utah within just a few months.
U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah stated, ‘Seeking justice for financial fraud is a priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Mr. Goodwin’s behavior demonstrates a disrespect for the law and the community. By working with our law enforcement partners, it is our hope, through prosecution, we can deter these crimes from further occurring in our communities.’
‘Exploiting the vulnerable to commit check fraud is not only a crime against the law but a grave injustice against humanity,’ said HSI Las Vegas Special Agent in Charge Chris Miller. ‘Those who prey on the impoverished to cash fraudulent checks, manipulating their desperation for personal gain, stands as a stark reminder of the darkest facets of greed. This sentencing is a reminder that Justice will find them, and their deceit will not go unpunished.’
In addition to Goodwin’s term of imprisonment, U.S. District Court Judge Tena Campbell sentenced him to five years’ supervised release and ordered him to pay over $214,000 in restitution to the banks and credit unions he stole from.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Sachi Jepson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
Defendant: Toddorius Goodwin, Exact Crime: conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity fraud, City: Salt Lake City, Utah, Date: August 13, 2024, Sentence: 36 months’ imprisonment, five years’ supervised release, and $214,000 restitution, and Dollar Amount: $214,179.51.
Key Facts
- State: Utah
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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