Second Metro East Man Pleads Guilty in Bank Fraud Scam

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Aijeigh McShan, 20, of Fairview Heights, Illinois, pled guilty today to 
conspiracy and bank fraud charges in federal court in East St. Louis, Illinois. McShan is the 
second of  three  men  charged  in  the  indictment  to  plead  guilty.  Lagardo  Wright,  20,  
also  of  Fairview Heights, pled guilty to the same offenses on September 21, 2021.

According to court documents, Wright and McShan used other people’s bank accounts to deposit 
counterfeit  checks  at  multiple  banks.  They  obtained  access  to  those  accounts  by  
recruiting individuals on social media and elsewhere, promising money in exchange for personal 
banking information,  including  online  usernames,  passwords,  and  PIN  numbers.  Whenever  they 
found someone willing to participate, they checked the person’s account balances and withdrawal 
limits, and deposited counterfeit checks into the person’s account at ATMs or through mobile 
deposits. Then they quickly withdrew funds before the bank could determine the checks were 
counterfeit and closed the account for fraud.

Conspiracy to commit bank fraud and brank fraud carry maximum sentences of thirty years in prison, 
fines of up to $1,000,000, and restitution.

Wright’s sentencing is scheduled for January 12, 2022. McShan will be sentenced on March 9, 2022. 
The third defendant, Cedric Sheard, Jr., 21, of Belleville, Illinois, is scheduled to plead guilty 
on November 16, 2021.

The investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke J. Weissler.