Atlanta Man Sentenced to Three Years for $200K Check Fraud Scheme in Utah

Toddorius Goodwin, a 34-year-old man from Atlanta, Georgia, has been sentenced to three years in prison for his role in a check fraud scheme that involved stealing over $200,000 from banks and credit unions in Utah. Goodwin’s sentence also includes five years of supervised release and an order to pay over $214,000 in restitution to the financial institutions he defrauded. This resolution was detailed in an announcement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office on November 12th.

After pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity fraud, Goodwin faced U.S. District Court Judge Tena Campbell in August of this year. The fraud spanned from April to October 2022 and saw Goodwin, alongside his associates, repeatedly travel from Georgia to Utah to execute their scheme. According to the

U.S. Department of Justice

, they enlisted the help of individuals facing poverty, who assumed the risk as runners, cashing the forged checks for a fraction of the illicit proceeds.

The operation was far from a spur-of-the-moment crime, as court documents reveal a methodical approach that involved training and remote coaching for recruits. Checks were stolen from private mailboxes, altered, and then cashed by these individuals across various banks. The targeted financial institutions lost a combined total of at least $214,179.51 over a several-month period.

Trina A. Higgins, U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah, emphasized the gravity of financial fraud crimes, asserting, “Seeking justice for financial fraud is a priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.” She further noted Goodwin’s “disrespect for the law and the community” as published by the

U.S. Department of Justice

. Chris Miller, HSI Las Vegas Special Agent in Charge, condemned the exploitation involved in Goodwin’s operation, stating, “Exploiting the vulnerable to commit check fraud is not only a crime against the law but a grave injustice against humanity.”

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