United States Attorney James T. Jacks
Northern District of Texas

FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 2010
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/

EIGHT LOCAL RESIDENTS ARRESTED IN BANK FRAUD SCHEME

DALLAS — The last of eight defendants charged in a bank fraud scheme, Jimmy Leallen Vaughn, 43, of Dallas, has been arrested on an indictment charging conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Most of the other defendants charged in the case were arrested on March 10, 2010, during a takedown by Inspectors with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). Trial has been set for May 17, 2010, before U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay.

Each of the remaining seven defendants listed below are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud:

Darrell Devinski Jones, 41, of Desoto, Texas
Tyrone Okeef Jones, 42, of, of Desoto
Timothy Tyrone Loud, 33, of Dallas
Hermisha Eugenia Montgomery, 35, of Desoto
Derrick Earl Scaggs, 36, of Desoto
Anthony Dawayne Patterson, 40, of Dallas
James Harrison, 41, of Dallas

Three of the eight defendants, Darrell Devinski Jones, Tyrone Okeef Jones and James Harrison have been detained pending trial; the remainder are on pre-trial release.

The indictment alleges that beginning in January 2008, the defendants participated in a scheme to steal corporate checks from bank lock boxes, and then open small business bank accounts, at various banks in the Dallas - Fort Worth, Texas area, using fraudulent information. The scheme included depositing the stolen corporate checks into these small business accounts and shortly thereafter removing funds via check and cash withdrawals. According to the indictment the defendants deposited more than $600,000 in stolen checks and losses to the victims are more than $400,000.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. However, if convicted, each defendant faces a maximum statutory sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

The case is being investigated by the USPIS and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Tourjé.

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