VALDOSTA, Ga. (WALB) – Eight South Georgia residents, including a bank branch employee, were sentenced to prison for a check-cashing and kickback scheme in Valdosta. The defendants were reportedly utilizing stolen check information from a former United States Postal Service employee.

“The involvement of the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office was crucial in helping Lowndes County investigators solve this complex fraud case and ensure that the defendants are held accountable for their actions,” said Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk.

The following suspects have previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud:

• Frederick Pernell Green
  • 27, from Valdosta
  • Sentenced to over 10 years (122 months) in prison, plus five years of supervised release
  • Ordered to pay $390,475.84 in restitution to Truist Bank on Oct. 10
• Thomas Christopher Mitchell
  • 31, from Valdosta
  • Sentenced to serve over seven years (92 months) in prison, plus five years of supervised release
  • Ordered to pay $390,475.84 in restitution to Truist Bank
• Calvin Dewayne McKeithen aka “supa”
  • 26, from Valdosta
  • Sentenced to serve nearly six years (70 months) in prison, plus five years of supervised release
  • Ordered to pay $390,475.84 in restitution to Truist Bank on March 27
• Dewayne Rasheen Butler aka “Guwapo”
  • 26, from Valdosta
  • Sentenced to serve over four years (51 months) in prison, plus five years of supervised release
  • Ordered to pay $390,475.84 in restitution to Truist Bank on Aug. 28
• Tyler Khershad Jones aka “LA Clippers”
  • 24, from Valdosta
  • Sentenced to serve over four years (51 months) in prison, plus five years of supervised release
  • Ordered to pay $390,475.84 in restitution to Truist Bank on Sept. 25
• Mariarlene Brown aka “Mati Mom”
  • 44, from Valdosta
  • Sentenced to serve almost three years (33 months) in prison, plus five years of supervised release
  • Ordered to pay $390,475.84 in restitution to Truist Bank on Oct. 9
• William Allen Roberts
  • 27, from Valdosta
  • Sentenced to serve six months in prison, plus five years of supervised release
  • Ordered to pay $390,475.84 in restitution to Truist Bank on Oct. 30
• Davontay Wiseman aka “Vonn”
  • 28, from Valdosta
  • Sentenced to serve six months in prison, plus three years of supervised release
  • Ordered to pay $390,475.84 in restitution to Truist Bank on Sept. 8

According to officials, from November 2021 to December 2022, Roberts conspired with codefendants — including Brown, a Truist Bank employee — to commit bank fraud.

Roberts reportedly obtained stolen check information from Vincent Galliard, a former U.S. Post Office employee who stole checks from the mail and sold them. Roberts then used this information to produce fraudulent checks. Galliard pled guilty and was sentenced to 30 months in prison, plus five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $149,692.14 in restitution.

Green, Mitchell, McKeithen, Jones, Butler and Wiseman recruited individuals to open bank accounts and provide their Truist debit card and account information for payment, officials said. This information was then passed to Roberts, who created fraudulent checks. With Brown’s assistance, Roberts deposited these checks into the new accounts, and Brown ensured the cash could be withdrawn. Brown, the codefendants and accountholders received payments, with Green, Roberts, Mitchell, McKeithen, Jones, Butler and Wiseman retaining most of the funds.

Text messages, photos of debit cards, account numbers, fraudulent checks, cash and a Truist logo diamond ring worn by Green were found as evidence in this case.

The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service (USSS) and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office.

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