Turner Gets 25 Months in $987K Bank Fraud

SEATTLE, WA – The last cog in a sophisticated bank fraud ring responsible for nearly a million dollars in losses has finally faced justice. SHAWN ANDRE TURNER, 26, of Kent, Washington, was sentenced last week to 25 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones delivered the sentence on October 7, 2016, bringing a close to a case that spanned four years and ensnared ten individuals.

The scheme, operating between November 2010 and February 2015, involved the systematic exploitation of seven financial institutions. The crew used a staggering 219 different bank accounts to launder over $987,000 in fraudulently obtained funds. The method was brazenly simple: stolen and forged checks were deposited, inflating account balances. Before the banks could flag the bad checks, co-schemers would withdraw massive amounts of cash using debit cards, leaving the banks holding the bag.

What made this operation particularly insidious was the level of complicity. Many of the account holders willingly participated, allowing the fraudsters access to their funds in exchange for a cut. Law enforcement sources reveal the checks themselves were often obtained through simple car prowls, or were entirely fabricated using legitimate account details on bogus paper. The victim banks included heavy hitters like Bank of America, Boeing Employees Credit Union (BECU), TwinStar Credit Union, Wells Fargo Bank, Sound Credit Union, Key Bank, and Banner Bank – all federally insured institutions.

TURNER’s direct involvement accounted for approximately $80,000 of the total loss, spread across 15 compromised accounts. He pleaded guilty to three counts of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft on April 28, 2016. He wasn’t alone. Clayton Leon Bias, Jr., 27, of Kent, received a 2-year sentence. Relonna Dollinn Ward, 36, of Tacoma, got 25 months. Calvin Dewayne Davis, 28, of Federal Way, and Arthur Napoleand Wilcher, 31, of Tacoma, both received 42-month terms.

The remaining defendants received lighter sentences – brief periods of incarceration coupled with extended terms of court supervision. Okila Ayanna Malayka Ulmer, 33, of Renton, Avery Edward Lee, 34, of Milton, Sephora Quilyn Watkins, 29, of Tacoma, and Johnathan Marquiel Turner, 24, of Federal Way, all played smaller roles in the fraud. One defendant managed to avoid prison entirely by successfully completing federal drug court.

The investigation was a joint effort between the U.S. Secret Service and the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Hampton spearheaded the prosecution, securing convictions against all ten defendants. While the money may never be fully recovered, the sentencing of TURNER marks the end of this particular brand of financial predation in the Pacific Northwest – at least for now.