MINNEAPOLIS — Six people have been indicted in a sprawling check-fraud scheme that federal prosecutors allege targeted credit unions and banks across the Twin Cities, using stolen business checks, fraudulent identification and sham business registrations to steal more than $1.5 million.
The defendants deposited or attempted to deposit more than $5.1 million in stolen business checks at Twin Cities financial institutions during a scheme that operated from at least November 2022 through September 2024, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota. More than $1.5 million was successfully stolen.
Federal prosecutors said the scheme involved opening fraudulent accounts in the names of legitimate businesses, depositing checks stolen from the U.S. mail and then quickly removing the proceeds through cash withdrawals and cashier’s checks.
The six defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury June 26, although the case was announced by federal prosecutors this month after the alleged lead defendant made his initial court appearance.
Fake Companies, Stolen Identities
According to the indictment, Willie Roy Turner Jr., 29, of Chicago, along with Marc Anderson, Billy Ray Cameron Jr., Devontay Colbert and Dontae Williams conspired to defraud credit unions and banks in the Twin Cities by negotiating stolen checks.
Prosecutors said the defendants opened or attempted to open unauthorized accounts in the names of businesses whose checks had been stolen.
To make the accounts appear legitimate, the defendants allegedly registered the names of the businesses as new Minnesota limited liability companies and then used the LLC documents to open accounts at financial institutions.
The defendants allegedly presented fraudulent identification issued in the names of other people and falsely represented themselves as authorized representatives of the businesses.
Once the accounts were established, prosecutors said, stolen checks payable to or drawn on the victim businesses were deposited. The defendants and other alleged co-conspirators then withdrew funds in cash or used the money to purchase cashier’s checks.
Postal Employee Allegedly Supplied Checks
Federal prosecutors allege the operation had another critical component: access to business checks moving through the mail.
Takiya Shemwell, who was employed by the U.S. Postal Service in Chicago at the time, allegedly identified and stole business mail containing checks that were payable to or drawn on the victim businesses.
Shemwell then allegedly sold the checks to Turner and Cameron in exchange for payments made through a peer-to-peer money-transfer application. Turner and Cameron subsequently shared the checks with other alleged co-conspirators, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Federal prosecutors said the defendants ultimately attempted to negotiate more than $5.1 million in stolen checks through Twin Cities financial institutions, successfully obtaining more than $1.5 million.
Six Defendants Face Federal Charges
Turner, also known as “J.S.B.” and “Little Willie,” is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit mail fraud. He made his initial appearance Sept. 4 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Shannon G. Elkins.
Anderson, also known as “K.T.C.” and “Sam Smith,” is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Cameron, of Chicago, is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit mail fraud.
Colbert and Williams, both of Chicago, are each charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Shemwell, also of Chicago, is charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud.
FOX 9 reported that prosecutors allege the operation was active for nearly two years and relied on the fraudulent business accounts to turn the stolen checks into cash and cashier’s checks.
Multiagency Investigation
The case was investigated under the Minnesota Financial Crimes Task Force, a multiagency organization focused on financial crimes and identity theft, particularly organized criminal operations.
The investigation included the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Eagan Police Department, Richfield Police Department and Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service in Minnesota, Illinois and Arizona.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca E. Kline and Bryan T. Mette are prosecuting the case.
