A Maryland woman has been sentenced to more than nine years in federal prison for her role as the leader of a large check fraud scheme. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis handed down the 114-month sentence to 24-year-old Tianna Cosby, also known as “Mendoza,” who had pled guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit mail and bank fraud, along with aggravated identity theft in October 2024.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, Kelly O. Hayes, made the announcement alongside key officials including Damon E. Wood, Postal Inspector in charge at the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) – Washington Division; Kathleen Woodson, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG) – Mid Atlantic Field Office; and Malik Aziz, Chief of the Prince George’s County Police Department.
Between March and August of 2021, Tianna Cosby led a conspiracy involving Marche Sisco, 26, Tommi Cosby, 21, Biniah Carter, 24, and Zion Oluwademilade Adeduwon, 22. The group defrauded financial institutions by stealing, altering, and depositing checks from the mail. The scheme affected more than 900 individuals, involving over 700 checks with a combined face value of more than $5 million.
Tianna Cosby acquired checks by taking them from USPS collection boxes or receiving them from Sisco, who obtained checks from the Washington Network Distribution Center. The operation included recruiting account mules and handling their banking information and identification to launder funds through shell companies such as “Santos Detailing” and “Spectrum Dynamics.”
In January 2024, authorities executed a search warrant at Cosby’s residence in Woodbridge, Virginia, where they confiscated 27 luxury handbags and 14 pieces of jewelry, with a combined appraised value of $137,555. Additionally, a BMW i8 worth $114,296 and a Louis Vuitton bag containing 151 stolen checks totaling approximately $610,788.08 were seized.
U.S. Attorney Hayes recognized the efforts of several agencies involved in the investigation, including the USPIS, USPS-OIG, and the Prince George’s County Police Department. A team of Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Bijon A. Mostoufi, Ranganath Manthripragada, Elizabeth G. Wright, John D’Amico, and Paralegal Specialist Joanna B.N. Huber, were credited with prosecuting and supporting the federal case.
Questions about the case can be directed to the Mega Victim Case Assistance Program (MCAP) at their toll-free number during business hours or via email. Further details about reporting fraud and resources provided by the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office can be found on their official website.
