A man from Georgia faces federal charges after pleading guilty to defrauding banks across Utah in a check scam operation. Toddorius Goodwin, 34, of Lithonia, Georgia, has admitted to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity fraud.
During his plea hearing, Goodwin acknowledged orchestrating a check fraud scheme that spanned from Georgia to Utah, among other places, using a network of individuals often struggling financially. In a detailed confession, Goodwin revealed how he and his associates would steal payroll checks from mailboxes, alter them by changing the "payable to" section, and then have recruits cash them at numerous banks. These recruits were given a share of the proceeds, as per the U.S. Department of Justice, the fraudulent activities netted Goodwin's group more than $214,000 between April and October 2022.
Goodwin is currently on track to receive his sentence on November 7. The sentencing is scheduled to be held at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in Salt Lake City, in courtroom 3.4 at 1:30 p.m.
U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah announced the guilty plea, with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) leading the investigation into the extensive operation. Special Assistant United States Attorney Sachi Jepson, from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah, is in charge of prosecuting Goodwin's case, ensuring that justice, is served.
