Jason M. Frierson U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada
A man from Lancaster, California, has been sentenced to 57 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his involvement in a scheme that defrauded banks out of over $1.2 million through forged money orders. Chief United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon delivered the sentence.
Sterlyn Lee Smith Jr., aged 49, along with several accomplices, executed the fraudulent operation between July 31, 2013, and February 13, 2019. They deposited altered money orders into bank accounts under other people's names and withdrew the funds before the forgery was detected by the banks. The scheme involved purchasing money orders from United States Post Offices in California and Nevada and altering them to appear as high-value orders.
The group deposited these fraudulent money orders into accounts at two banks located in Nevada and California. Throughout this six-year period, more than 1,200 forged money orders were deposited or attempted to be deposited, amounting to over $1.2 million.
Smith admitted guilt to two counts of bank fraud corresponding to each victimized bank. Apart from his prison sentence, he has been ordered to pay restitution totaling $432,482.63.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada and Inspector in Charge Glen Henderson of the United States Postal Inspections Service (USPIS), Phoenix Division.
The investigation was conducted by USPIS with Assistant United States Attorneys Kimberly Frayn and Justin Washburne prosecuting the case.
For reporting fraud complaints, individuals can contact the U.S. Postal Service Fraud Complaint Hotline at 1-800-372-8347 or visit their website at www.usps.com/postalinspectors.
