North Port Man Sentenced In Check Cashing Bank Fraud Scheme

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich has sentenced Michael Wesley (49, North Port) to 27 months in federal prison for his role in a bank fraud scheme. The Court also ordered him to pay restitution to the banks involved. Wesley pleaded guilty on December 12, 2016.

According to court documents, Wesley was engaged in a fraud scheme in which he would obtain checks that had been stolen from United States Postal Service mailboxes. He would then use the personal information printed on those stolen checks to cash, at the victim’s own bank, worthless checks made payable to the victim but that had been written on closed accounts from other banking institutions. In this manner, Wesley frequently obtained cash from federally insured financial institutions.

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Sheriff’s Offices in Manatee, Hillsborough, Seminole, and Lee Counties, and the Florida Highway Patrol. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer.