Florence Woman Sentenced in Federal Court on Fraud Charges

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Crystal Lynn Norris, age 27, of Florence, SC, was sentenced today in federal court in Florence, South Carolina, for Conspiracy to Manufacture and Pass Forged and Counterfeited Securities, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, § 371.  United States District Judge Bryan Harwell, of Florence, sentenced Norris to 16 months imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release.

The evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing established that during the period from November through December of 2016, Norris was involved in a conspiracy to manufacture and pass forged and counterfeited securities (checks) of organizations.  Norris and another person stole mail from mailboxes at various residences in Florence and Darlington Counties, looking for checks within the mail.  Norris would then either alter or forge the stolen checks by substituting herself as the payee or would use genuine bank account and routing numbers from the stolen checks to make counterfeit checks.  Norris then went to banks in Florence and Easley to present the forged and counterfeited checks for payment. 

The case was investigated by agents of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with the assistance of the Florence County Sheriff’s Office, the Florence Police Department, and the Easley Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney A. Bradley Parham of the Florence office prosecuted the case.

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