June 14, 2007 -
NEW JERSEY MAN CHARGED WITH LEADING MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR, STOLEN CHECK RING
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Pat Meehan today announced the filing of an indictment* charging a Voorhees, N.J. man for his role as leader of a multi-million dollar stolen check cashing ring. Cornell Goodman, a.k.a. “Honiff,” 38, is charged with conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, mail fraud, bank fraud, money laundering, uttering forged securities and aiding and abetting. Goodman and others allegedly stole in excess of $2 million through seven charged schemes.
“For almost three years, the defendant stole checks, created fictional companies, and opened at least twelve separate bank accounts using fraudulent identification documents,” said Meehan.
For example, from August 2004 through in or about November 2004, Goodman, in conjunction with a former Aramark employee charged elsewhere, knowingly submitted false and fraudulent invoices and/or computer entries to Aramark, Inc. on behalf of fictitious companies. As a result of these invoices and/or entries, Aramark issued and mailed at least four checks totaling approximately $1,072,731.38 payable to these “companies.”
“In another instance, the defendant used the name of an elderly man, along with a fake driver’s license, to obtain a $250,000 loan in the man’s name,” according to Meehan.
DEFENDANT |
ADDRESS |
AGE [Date of Birth] |
CORNELL GOODMAN |
Voorhees, NJ |
38 |
If convicted, the defendant faces a sentence of 20 years or more under the advisory Federal Sentencing Guidelines, as well as a mandatory minimum 2 year to maximum 6 year sentence, $11,000,000 in fines, 5 years supervised release and $2200 in special assessments. The case was investigated by agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement as well as the Maple Shade and Cherry Hill, New Jersey Police Departments. It has been assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Derek A. Cohen.
| UNITED
STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE EASTERN DISTRICT, PENNSYLVANIA Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19106 |
Contact: RICH MANIERI Media Contact 215.861.8525 |
*An Indictment or Information is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Benjamin Franklin Photo by B. Krist for the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation