Toddorius Goodwin, a 34-year-old from Atlanta, has been sentenced to three years in prison for his role in a counterfeit check cashing scheme that targeted banks and credit unions in Utah. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah, Goodwin’s sentence includes five years of supervised release and over $214,000 in restitution, as ordered by U.S. District Judge Tena Campbell.
The U.S. Attorney for Utah, Trina A. Higgins, emphasized the department’s commitment to tackling financial fraud, noting that Goodwin’s actions showed disregard for the law and community welfare.
From April to October 2022, Goodwin and his co-conspirators ran a sophisticated fraud scheme involving counterfeit checks. The group reportedly traveled from Georgia to Utah, where they recruited vulnerable individuals to cash the fake checks. Their operation involved stealing payroll checks from private mailboxes, altering the payee names to those of the recruited individuals, and directing them to cash the checks in exchange for a portion of the proceeds.
According to the department, the scheme was highly organized, with Goodwin’s team instructing recruits through earpieces while maintaining physical distance from the transactions. The group ultimately cashed over $214,000 in counterfeit checks throughout Utah.
Special Agent Chris Miller from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Las Vegas condemned the scheme as an abuse of vulnerable individuals. He noted that manipulating those in desperate circumstances for financial gain reflects a severe form of greed, exploiting those who are already struggling.
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