An Atlanta man was sentenced this week to four years and nine months in federal prison after being convicted last September for his involvement in check-theft scheme.
Marvious D. Hester, 35, worked with a Georgia woman to steal and deposit more than $750,000 in Social Security checks and other federal money for nearly two years, according to U.S. Attorney John Horn.
According to the Justice Department, about five years ago Hester met Rasheda Thomas, who operated a tax preparation business, where she filed fraudulent tax returns. Rather than continue with the tax return scheme, Hester convinced Thomas to use her business bank account to deposit stolen U.S. Treasury checks Hester had obtained.
Authorities say the two of them deposited stolen U.S. Treasury checks into various J.P. Morgan Chase bank accounts. In December 2013, Thomas was indicted on theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft charges. She pleaded guilty in April 2014, and provided information that incriminated Hester.
Thomas was sentenced two years ago. Hester was indicted on the same charges last May and pleaded guilty in September.
Both Thomas and Hester received sentences of four years and nine months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Thomas was ordered to pay $686,886.53 in restitution. Hester must pay $752,744.19.
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