Indictment Charges 3 Connecticut Residents Involved in Check Fraud Scheme

David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, today announced that a federal grand jury in Bridgeport has returned an indictment charging MICHELLE FREEMAN, also known as “Thunder,” 37, of Waterbury, LESHANDA LONG, 43, of Hamden, and OMAR EADDY, 40, of Bridgeport, with participating in a stolen check and bank fraud scheme.

As alleged in the indictment and court documents, Freeman, Long, and Eaddy engaged in a scheme that involved the theft of checks from mailboxes and the manipulation of the stolen checks to make them payable to individuals who served as “check runners.”  The check runners would then cash the fraudulent checks and provide the cash to the conspirators.  Freeman led the conspiracy and was responsible for counterfeiting the fraudulent checks, which were primarily drawn from small business accounts in Connecticut.  Long and Eaddy recruited the check runners to cash the checks at banks and check cashing locations.

The indictment, which was returned on August 20, 2025, charges Freeman, Long, and Eaddy with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years.

Freeman, Long, and Eaddy were arrested on criminal complaints on May 6, 2025.  They are each released on a $100,000 bond and are scheduled to be arraigned on August 26.

U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Connecticut Organized Financial Fraud (CUT OFF) Task Force, which includes personnel from the Milford, Westport, Fairfield, West Haven, Stamford, West Hartford, and Bridgeport Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Boyles.