A Lancaster, California man has been sentenced to 57 months in prison for his involvement in a scheme involving over $1.2 million in forged money orders. Chief United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon also ordered Sterlyn Lee Smith Jr., 49, to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term.
Court documents reveal that from July 31, 2013, to February 13, 2019, Smith and several accomplices engaged in a fraudulent operation. They deposited altered money orders into bank accounts under different names and withdrew the funds before banks identified the forgery. The group purchased money orders at post offices in California and Nevada, altered them to show higher amounts, and then deposited them into accounts at two banks located in Nevada and California.
Throughout this six-year scheme, more than 1,200 forged money orders were deposited or attempted to be deposited by Smith and others, amounting to over $1.2 million.
Smith pleaded guilty to two counts of bank fraud related to the victimized banks. Besides imprisonment, he was ordered to pay restitution totaling $432,482.63.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada and Inspector in Charge Glen Henderson of the United States Postal Inspections Service (USPIS), Phoenix Division.
The USPIS conducted the investigation with Assistant United States Attorneys Kimberly Frayn and Justin Washburne prosecuting the case.
For those wishing to report fraud complaints, they can contact the U.S. Postal Service Fraud Complaint Hotline at 1-800-372-8347 or visit the USPIS website at www.usps.com/postalinspectors.