Hawkeye Reporter

Three individuals identified as leaders of a nationwide bank fraud and money laundering conspiracy have been sentenced to a total of 421 months in federal prison. Thaddeus Jerome Lee, Latroy L. Currie, and Johnnie Lee Thomas were found to have led operations that stretched from California to Connecticut, including activity in Iowa.

Court documents and evidence presented at sentencing showed that over approximately two and a half years, the group attempted to deposit at least $15 million in stolen checks at various financial institutions across the United States. The conspirators successfully obtained at least $2.9 million through fraudulent means.

Lee and Thomas resided in Arizona while Currie lived in Indiana. The three recruited numerous individuals to participate in acts of bank fraud and money laundering. They acquired tens of millions of dollars’ worth of stolen checks, established fake business entities, and directed co-conspirators who opened fraudulent checking accounts at banks and credit unions across several states to deposit the stolen checks. The proceeds were then laundered by withdrawing funds from these accounts and distributing them among participants.

Lee received a sentence of 151 months’ imprisonment; Currie was sentenced to 135 months; Thomas also received 135 months. After their prison terms, Lee and Currie will serve five years on supervised release, while Thomas will serve three years. There is no parole under the federal system.

In addition to the sentences for the three leaders, eleven other co-conspirators received sentences for their roles:

- Tiarra Lenae Jones: 96 months’ imprisonment plus five years supervised release

- Stephen Rashad Haley: 384 months plus five years supervised release

- Lovely Hall: 60 months plus three years supervised release

- Kila Wright: 54 months plus three years supervised release

- Kira Ashleigh Johnson: 42 months plus three years supervised release

- John Ivory Winston, Jr.: 30 months plus three years supervised release

- Reanna R. Haymon: 12 months and one day plus three years supervised release

- Shapara Monee Hunter: eight months plus two years supervised release

- Mario Ricardo Smith: six months plus three years supervised release

- Jazlinn Tapp: four months plus three years supervised release

- Somore Renee Hill: twelve months and one day plus three years supervised release

Four additional defendants—Malik K. Marshal, Toni Lynette Renfroe, Carnell A. Thomas Jr., and Erin R. Smith—are awaiting sentencing.

“A combined total of 421 months in prison for the leaders of this check fraud scheme should send a message about the seriousness of the crime,” said Special Agent in Charge William Steenson of IRS Criminal Investigation’s St. Louis Field Office. “Stealing checks, money laundering, and bank fraud…these are not victimless crimes. The sentences imposed are the result of IRS-CI’s commitment to identifying and investigating check fraud and working with other federal agencies to ensure the guilty are held accountable.”

The FBI commented on the case stating, “These defendants orchestrated a sophisticated illegal scheme to defraud businesses and our banking systems. This kind of criminal activity erodes public trust and undermines our nation’s economic security. The FBI will continue to work with our partners to aggressively investigate and hold accountable criminals who use deception and dishonesty to steal money from innocent victims and businesses. Financial fraud is not a victimless crime.”

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal for the Southern District of Iowa following an investigation led by IRS Criminal Investigations Division along with assistance from several federal agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Postal Inspection Service; Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms; Homeland Security Investigations; Secret Service; as well as state and local agencies.

Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph Lubben, Kristin Herrera, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Essley prosecuted this case.