Georgia Man Sentenced for Bank Fraud Scheme and Identity Theft: Marqueldis Antwon Logan Ordered to Pay Over $300,000 in Restitution

Augusta, GA - Marqueldis Antwon Logan, 38, of Stone Mountain, GA, was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $302,939 in restitution after pleading guilty to bank fraud and identity theft charges. The sentencing took place on [Date] before U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall.

Charges and Penalties for Logan

1. Prison sentence: 51 months (4 years and 3 months)
2. Restitution: $272,097
3. Supervised release: 5 years

“Defendants like Logan take advantage of others’ hard work and savings, causing significant financial damage,” said U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg. “This type of fraudulent scheme not only violates trust but also has far-reaching consequences.”

The Fraudulent Scheme

Led by Logan, also known as “Alphonso Baugh,” the fraud scheme began when unauthorized access was gained to a money market account owned by a Columbia County woman and her daughter. The duo discovered the suspicious activity in their account in September 2020. They immediately informed their bank and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, which then joined forces with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The investigation revealed that Logan had fraudulently cashed or deposited checks totaling over $497,000 into accounts under his and others’ control. Of this amount, Logan successfully cashed or deposited checks totaling $497,136. The restitution for this case reflects the outstanding and unrecovered funds, which amounted to $230,151.

Logan used these funds for various purchases and travels. The FBI arrested him in November 2022 while he was traveling in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Previous Scheme and COVID-19 Small Business Relief Loan

Additionally, Logan admitted to his involvement in another scheme where he had withdrawn over $100,000 from another victim’s account using stolen identifying information from their deceased husband. The restitution includes these unpaid funds, totaling $101,848, as well as the $20,832 Logan received from a fraudulently obtained COVID-19 small business relief loan.

The Investigation and Prosecution

The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer A. Stanley prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

“This guilty plea underscores the FBI’s commitment to bringing those who engage in fraudulent schemes to justice,” said Brian Ozden, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Atlanta office. “These types of fraud schemes, although not violent, can still be devastating, and it’s essential that we hold those responsible accountable.”