Georgia Man Sentenced for Bank Fraud Scheme Targeting Homeless Individuals in New England

February 16, 2022

Michael Williams, a 26-year-old man from Atlanta, GA, was sentenced on February 16, 2022, in U.S. District Court to 41 months in prison for his role in a banking fraud scheme that targeted homeless and transient individuals in the Providence area.

Description of the Scheme

Williams was brought to justice by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for his involvement in a conspiracy to commit bank fraud. During the sentencing, U.S. Attorney, Arnold Cunha, remarked:

“This defendant’s actions in this case went beyond monetary losses; they also preyed upon the most vulnerable members of our society to further his own financial gains.”

According to investigators, from October 2018 through February 2021, Williams and his accomplices approached numerous homeless individuals, promising them cash in return for cashing counterfeit checks at banks throughout the New England region. The individuals, often given check amounts of $2,000 or more, would receive approximately $100 per successfully cashed check.

Scheme’s Consequences

Court records indicate that Williams and others attempted to cash approximately $677,687 worth of counterfeit checks, causing actual losses to financial institutions of approximately $480,000. The criminal enterprise was dismantled when Providence Police arrested Williams and another individual on February 5, 2021.

Legal Consequences for Williams

In addition to the imprisonment, Michael Williams was ordered to pay restitution amounting to $480,000 and serve a 3-year term of federal supervised release post-release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H. Vilker handled the prosecution, while the investigation was led by the United States Secret Service.

The Providence and Medway, MA, Police Departments also played a crucial role in this case’s investigation.

Criminal Record

Williams’ criminal record now includes a federal prison sentence for his participation in this intricate banking fraud scheme.