New Orleans Man Sentenced for Cashing Counterfeit U.S. Treasury Checks

MOBILE, AL – Samuel Dixon, 28, of New Orleans was sentenced to six months of incarceration after pleading guilty to two counts of cashing counterfeit United States Treasury checks.

According to court documents, Dixon admitted that on February 14, 2020, he successfully cashed two counterfeit checks at different Walmart stores in Mobile, Alabama.  The counterfeit checks cashed by Dixon were created from a template based on a legitimate U.S. Treasury check stolen in 2018.   Counterfeit checks created from this template have been cashed over 450 times throughout the United States.

In the first instance, Dixon presented a Walmart employee with a counterfeit check bearing a female’s name identified in the plea agreement as “R. Smith.”   To verify that Dixon was authorized to cash the check on behalf of R. Smith, he presented a counterfeit Georgia drivers license that contained Dixon’s picture, but other identifying information belonging to a real male who is identified in the plea agreement as K. Smith.   In addition, Dixon provided K. Smith’s actual social security number.  Believing that Dixon was K. Smith, and thus had the authority to cash the check on behalf of R. Smith, the Walmart employee cashed the check for $2,195.00.  

Several hours later, Dixon presented a Walmart employee at a different store in Mobile with another counterfeit U.S. Treasury check bearing the name R. Smith.  This time, Dixon presented a counterfeit Virginia drivers license containing his picture and the real information of a male identified in the plea agreement as M. Smith.  After Dixon provided M. Smith’s real social security number, the Walmart employee cashed the check for $2,195.00.

In addition to the two counterfeit U.S. Treasury checks cashed in Mobile, Dixon also admitted to previously cashing two other counterfeit checks in Louisiana.  Finally, Dixon admitted that when he was arrested on unrelated charges in New Orleans in February 2020, he had in his possession five similar counterfeit U.S. Treasury checks.

“The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration aggressively pursues those who endeavor to corrupt Federal tax administration,” said J. Russell George, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.  “We appreciate the efforts of the Department of Justice in this investigation.”

This case was investigated by the United States Department of the Treasury – Office of Inspector General, as well as the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.  Also assisting with the apprehension of Dixon was the Federal Bureau of Investigation New Orleans Gang Task Force.

Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Bodnar and S. Gaillard Ladd prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.