A Columbia County woman has been sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for her role in a fraud scheme involving stolen and counterfeit checks. Dechanta Benning, 35, was also ordered to pay a $2,500 fine and $300 in special assessments. She will serve five years of supervised release after completing her prison term, with no eligibility for parole under federal sentencing guidelines, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.
Court records show that Benning committed bank fraud and aggravated identity theft by stealing business checks from the U.S. Postal Service, altering them, and depositing them into multiple accounts. She then withdrew funds before the fraud was detected, resulting in losses of approximately $1 million to individuals and businesses nationwide. The U.S. Attorney’s Office stated that the scheme affected hundreds of victims.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which documented the financial harm caused to businesses, individuals, and financial institutions. Federal officials emphasized that the case reflects ongoing efforts to address mail theft and financial fraud. The prosecution was handled by First Assistant U.S. Attorney David H. Estes.
