NEWS RELEASE
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
Julia C. Dudley Acting United States Attorney Brian McGinn Public Affairs Specialist |
BB&T Building 310 1st Street, S.W., Room 906 Roanoke, Virginia 24011 (540) 857-2974 FAX (540) 857-2179 |
May 27, 2008
GREENSBORO MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO PARTICIPATING IN CHECK CASHING SCHEME
Acting United States Attorney Julia C. Dudley announced today that Anthony D. Oakes, age 32, of Greensboro, North Carolina, pled guilty in United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, in Roanoke to charges that he was involved in a check cashing scheme.
Oakes, along with co-conspirator Bart K. Mullins, age 29, also of Greensboro, North Carolina, was charged in a 26-count indictment on February 7, 2008 on numerous charges related to a check cashing scheme and identity theft. Mullins is currently a fugitive.
“I am grateful to all the men and women who investigated this case and were able to bring this defendant to justice,” Acting United States Attorney Julia C. Dudley said today. “Our focus will continue to be locating Mr. Mullins and holding him responsible for the crimes he has been charged with.”
Oakes was charged with six counts of uttering a counterfeit security, and one count each of identification document fraud, bank fraud, aggravated identity fraud and conspiracy. He pled guilty today to one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for August 18, 2008 in Roanoke.
Mullins was charged with 14 counts of uttering a counterfeit security, two counts of identification document fraud and one count each of bank fraud, aggravated identity fraud and conspiracy.
According to the indictment, Mullins and Oakes were involved in a scheme to enrich themselves by obtaining money through fraud, deception and deceit. Between Dec. 21, 2007 and Dec. 23, 2007, Mullins and Oakes, both using a variety of aliases, used counterfeit securities and counterfeit payroll checks to purchase items and obtain cash from several Walmart stores in the Western District of Virginia, and elsewhere.
In order to utter the counterfeit checks, the defendants utilized multiple counterfeit North Carolina Drivers Licenses. The fraudulent drivers licences contained a variety of different names but included the photographic likeness of either Mullins or Oakes.
According to court documents, on six different occasions on or about Dec. 23, 2007, Bart Mullins used aliases to cash or attempt to cash six counterfeit checks at a variety of Walmart stores. The counterfeit checks ranged in amounts and totaled $2,572.95. During the same time period, Oakes also used an alias to cash or attempt to cash a counterfeit check at a Walmart store in the amount of $293.71.
In addition, Mullins and Oakes were in the possession of various counterfeit payroll checks when they were apprehended. According to court documents, Mullins was in possession of a total of eight counterfeit payroll checks made out to a variety of aliases.
Oakes was found to be in possession of total of five counterfeit payroll checks made out to several different names. All of the counterfeit checks were allegedly issued from legitimate business entities, however, the investigation revealed that the owners of those businesses had no knowledge of the actions of Mullins and Oakes.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the United States Secret Service at the request of the Pearisburg Virginia Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Charlene Day is prosecuting the case.