Three Individuals Indicted For Nationwide Computer-Aided Fraud Scheme Involving Almost $2 Million In Counterfeit Checks And Over 400 Stolen Identities

BATON ROUGE, LA - United States Attorney Walt Green announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment in an ongoing investigation into a nationwide scheme involving millions in counterfeit checks and hundreds of stolen identities.

Specifically, the indictment charges WALTER GLENN, age 38, of Hartford, Connecticut, LARRY WALKER, age 39, of Orlando, Florida and THOMAS JAMES, age 55, of Union, South Carolina, with conspiracy to make and pass counterfeit checks, production of false identification documents use unauthorized access devices access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft.  If convicted, the defendants face significant prison terms, fines, restitution orders, and forfeiture orders.

According to the Indictment, GLENN, WALKER and JAMES used fake IDs and social security numbers belonging to others in over 800 transactions in several states as part of their scheme to cash almost $2,000,000 in counterfeit checks.  The alleged fraudulent scheme resulted in approximately $1,218,000 in losses to a large national retailer.  According to the indictment, the scheme was facilitated through the use of computers.

The Indictment alleges that, in order to execute their fraudulent scheme, GLENN, WALKER, and JAMES manufactured counterfeit checks from stolen account numbers, and then used the personal identifiable information of over 400 victims to make fake IDs which enabled them to cash the counterfeit checks that they had produced.

U.S. Attorney Green stated: “The theft and use of stolen identities and monetary devices is becoming a worldwide epidemic, particularly in the United States.  Cyber technology is allowing fraud schemes to blossom by providing criminals, both domestically and overseas, with the tools and information to make each scheme bigger and better than the last.  The role of federal prosecutors and investigators to address this threat is critical.  Cyber criminals are not untouchable and we will devote the resources necessary to aggressively pursue these criminals and take the fight to them and any others seeking to defraud our communities.”

This matter is being handled by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana, the United States Secret Service, and the West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica M.P. Thornhill.

NOTE:  An indictment is an accusation by the Grand Jury.  A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.