Mekhi Diwone Harris, a Birmingham man, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his involvement in a fake check scheme that defrauded victims of more than $10 million. Harris, who operated a Telegram channel called “Work Related Slips,” facilitated the sale of stolen financial instruments to other scammers. He used Cash App and cryptocurrency for transactions and purchased supplies to create counterfeit checks. Harris pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud and has been ordered to forfeit $160,000.
Victims of the scheme included individuals, municipalities, churches, schools, and businesses across the country. FBI Special Agent Megan Grose calculated that over $15.1 million worth of fraudulent checks were posted on the Telegram channel between 2022 and 2023. The investigation revealed that Harris used social media, travel records, and his Cash App account to link him to the fraudulent activities.
The FBI, along with other law enforcement agencies, conducted the investigation that led to Harris’ arrest and subsequent sentencing. U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona emphasized the growing issue of check fraud and praised the coordinated efforts to prosecute individuals like Harris who engage in fraudulent schemes. This sentencing serves as a warning to others involved in similar criminal activities. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Canter prosecuted the case, with FBI Special Agent in Charge Peeples emphasizing the commitment to protecting the public from fraudsters.
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