Eric Lamont Salvant, 35, has been sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison for his involvement in a check-fraud operation. Salvant pleaded guilty to participating in the scheme.
Court documents and information presented during proceedings showed that Salvant worked with two others to obtain stolen checks using an encrypted messaging application. The group altered these checks and produced new counterfeit versions. They then deposited the fraudulent checks into bank accounts belonging to various individuals who had been recruited by Salvant. The funds were quickly withdrawn as cash.
The scheme was disrupted when a bank teller in Shallotte became suspicious of an attempted deposit of a counterfeit check and notified law enforcement. During the investigation, police discovered that Salvant tried to hide a bag containing more than 50 stolen and counterfeit checks, along with over 30 debit cards under different names, on a grocery store shelf while his associates were being arrested outside.
W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announced the sentencing. The United States Secret Service conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Cogburn prosecuted the case.
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