Eight residents of South Georgia, including a bank branch employee, have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a check cashing and kickback scheme in Valdosta. The operation used stolen check information obtained from a former United States Postal Service employee.
“Individuals who participate in check-cashing and kickback schemes will face imprisonment and other penalties,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Investigators from the Secret Service and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office worked to unravel this criminal network, ultimately preventing further theft and helping us ensure accountability for the defendants.”
Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk stated, “The involvement of the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office was crucial in helping Lowndes County investigators solve this complex fraud case and ensure that the defendants are held accountable for their actions.”
Frederick Pernell Green, 27, received a sentence of 122 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release and must pay $390,475.84 in restitution to Truist Bank after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Thomas Christopher Mitchell, 31, was sentenced to 92 months in prison with five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $390,475.84 in restitution after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Calvin Dewayne McKeithen (also known as “Supa”), 26, received a sentence of 70 months in prison with five years of supervised release and must pay $390,475.84 in restitution after pleading guilty.
Dewayne Rasheen Butler (“Guwapo”), 26, was sentenced to 51 months in prison with five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $390,475.84 in restitution after pleading guilty.
Tyler Khershad Jones (“LA Clippers”), 24, received a sentence of 51 months with three years of supervised release and must pay $390,475.84 in restitution after pleading guilty.
Mariarlene Brown (“Mati Mom”), 44, was sentenced to 33 months with five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $390,475.84 in restitution after pleading guilty.
William Allen Roberts, 27, received six months’ imprisonment followed by five years’ supervised release along with an order for $390,475.84 restitution after his plea.
Davontay Wiseman (“Vonn”), 28, was sentenced to six months with three years’ supervised release plus $390,475.84 restitution following his plea.
U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands presided over the proceedings; federal sentences do not allow parole.
Court documents indicate that between November 2021 and December 2022 Roberts conspired with others to commit bank fraud while Brown worked at a Truist Bank branch in Valdosta. Roberts acquired stolen check information from Vincent Galliard—a former postal worker from Sumter, South Carolina—who had pleaded guilty separately for selling checks taken from mail while employed at the U.S. Post Office there; Galliard is serving a separate sentence including prison time and restitution obligations.
Roberts used this information to create fraudulent checks which were then deposited into accounts opened by individuals recruited by Green, Mitchell, McKeithen, Jones, Butler and Wiseman at Truist Bank branches using new debit cards provided as part of the scheme; these participants expected payment for providing account access details.
Brown assisted Roberts by ensuring successful deposits and withdrawals at her branch location; she also received payments for her role alongside other co-defendants who retained most proceeds from each transaction. Investigators uncovered text messages among conspirators detailing aspects of their activities as well as photographs showing debit cards involved in transactions alongside images documenting fraudulent checks and cash proceeds.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Secret Service (USSS) together with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office; Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Couch Hostetler prosecuted on behalf of the government.
