Atlanta Man Sentenced for Stolen Treasury Check Scheme

ATLANTA - Marvious D. Hester has been sentenced to four years and nine months in federal prison for theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft.  The defendant was purchasing U.S Treasury checks which had been stolen in the metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, area and elsewhere.

“Hester and his co-conspirator deposited over $750,000 in stolen U.S. Treasury checks,” said U.S. Attorney John Horn.  “Money that rightfully belonged to honest taxpayers and Social Security beneficiaries.  Unfortunately, Treasury Check schemes like this are becoming more and more common in Atlanta.”

“This sentencing again emphasizes that the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Attorney’s office will continue their aggressive pursuit of those who use fraudulent methods in an attempt to steal from the American public,” stated Veronica F. Hyman-Pillot, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation.  “This sentence is a message to others that such greed based criminal behavior as seen in this case comes with a cost.”

Thomas Noyes II, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge of the Charlotte Division stated, “This is a textbook example of solid investigative work and cooperation on everyone’s part.  We are proud to have prevented further victimization by these individuals, who could have caused even more considerable financial damage to law abiding taxpayers.”      

According to U.S. Attorney Horn, the charges and other information presented in court: In approximately 2011, Hester met Rasheda Thomas, who operated a tax preparation business which she used to file fraudulent tax returns.  Hester convinced Thomas to abandon her tax preparation business and, instead, use her business bank account to deposit stolen U.S. Treasury checks which Hester was able to obtain. 

Together, Hester and Thomas deposited over $750,000 in stolen U.S. Treasury checks into various J.P. Morgan Chase bank accounts.  On December 10, 2013, Thomas was charged in a federal indictment with theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft.  She pleaded guilty on April 28, 2014, and provided information that incriminated Hester.  Hester was indicted on the same charges on May 5, 2015 and pleaded guilty on September 30, 2015. 

Marvious D. Hester, 35, of Atlanta, Georgia, has been sentenced was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Orinda D. Evans to four years, nine months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $752,744.19.  Hester was convicted on these charges on September 30, 2015, after he pleaded guilty.

Rasheda D. Thomas was sentenced on July 28, 2014 to four years, nine months in federal prison, followed by three years supervised release, and ordered to pay $686,886.53 in restitution.  Thomas was convicted on these charges on April 28, 2014, after she pleaded guilty.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Social Security Administration - Office of the Inspector General, and United States Postal Inspection Service.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Diane C. Schulman and Assistant United States Attorney Steven D. Grimberg prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.