A Lancaster, California, man, Sterlyn Lee Smith Jr., was sentenced to nearly five years in federal prison for his involvement in a fraudulent scheme that led to the deposit and withdrawal of over $1.2 million in forged money orders, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada.
Smith, 49, participated in the scheme between July 31, 2013, and February 13, 2019. He and his co-conspirators purchased money orders from U.S. post offices in both California and Nevada, altering them to reflect higher amounts before depositing them into bank accounts under fictitious names. The money orders were then fraudulently deposited into accounts at banks in Nevada and California.
The scheme lasted over six years, with Smith and his co-conspirators depositing or attempting to deposit more than 1,200 forged money orders worth over $1.2 million. They withdrew cash before the banks could identify the fraud, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
Smith pleaded guilty to two counts of bank fraud, one for each of the victimized banks, and was sentenced to 57 months in prison. He was also ordered to pay $432,482.63 in restitution.
Acting U.S. Attorney Sue Fahami and Inspector in Charge Glen Henderson of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Phoenix Division, made the announcement regarding the sentencing. The U.S. Postal Service Fraud Complaint Hotline can be reached at 1-800-372-8347 for anyone wishing to report fraud.
