U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins | U.S. Department of Justice
Toddorius Goodwin, a 34-year-old resident of Atlanta, Georgia, has been sentenced to 36 months in prison for his involvement in a check fraud scheme targeting banks and credit unions in Utah. The sentencing was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Tena Campbell, who also imposed five years of supervised release and ordered Goodwin to pay over $214,000 in restitution.
Goodwin pleaded guilty in August 2024 to charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity fraud. Court documents reveal that from April to October 2022, Goodwin and his associates orchestrated a sophisticated operation where they traveled from Georgia to Utah multiple times. They recruited impoverished individuals locally as "runners" to cash counterfeit checks at various banks.
The scheme involved stealing payroll checks from private mailboxes, altering the payee names on these checks to those of the recruited individuals, and then sending them into banks with instructions relayed through earpieces. In return for their participation, these individuals received a small portion of the proceeds. The fraudulent activities resulted in at least $214,179.51 being cashed through forged checks within a few months.
U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins stated: “Seeking justice for financial fraud is a priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.” She emphasized that such behavior reflects disrespect for both law and community and expressed hope that prosecution would deter similar crimes.
Chris Miller, Special Agent in Charge at HSI Las Vegas, commented on the exploitation involved: “Exploiting the vulnerable to commit check fraud is not only a crime against the law but a grave injustice against humanity." He highlighted how this case serves as a reminder that justice will prevail against those driven by greed.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with Special Assistant United States Attorney Sachi Jepson prosecuting the case on behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah.
