Five people accused of bilking nearly $700,000 from Wal-Mart by using bad check scheme www.privateofficer.com

 

 

 

Nashville TN Feb 2 2012 Five Nashville residents are accused of bilking nearly $700,000 from Wal-Mart by using bad checks to purchase prepaid debit cards from stores in Middle Tennessee and five other states.

Bernard Stanton, Connie Rena Stanton, Troice Leslie Stanton, Shawanna Nicole Bolden and Canisha Denise Alred were indicted last week on conspiracy, bank fraud and wire fraud charges.
All five had been arrested as of Tuesday, said Sandra G. Moses, an assistant U.S. attorney in Nashville. Bolden was released with conditions Monday pending trial.
According to the indictment, the group’s scheme involved presenting checks to Wal-Mart cashiers with a note attached to it directing the cashier to process the check as cash.
The note would be signed “CSM” to mislead cashiers into thinking it had been signed by a customer service manager.
The checks were stolen or written on closed accounts, according to the indictment, and were used to purchase prepaid debit cards, usually in the amount of $900.
The group targeted stores in Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Indiana, Missouri and Ohio, according to the indictment, and the scheme began at least as early as December 2008.
Moses said it took time to connect and investigate the conspiracy, which was reported to federal authorities by Wal-Mart.
Nashville attorney David Heroux, appointed to represent Alred, said he couldn’t make any comment on the charges while they are still pending. Federal public defender Dumaka Shabazz, appointed to represent Bolden, was not available Tuesday.

Source:tennessean