SUITLAND, Md. – A member of Andrews FCU was sentenced to a year in prison Wednesday for his role in an Internet scheme designed to steal $109,000 from his credit union.
Tyron Johnson, 35, told U.S. Secret Service agents he was recruited through the Internet as part of a scam through which he was supposed to deposit counterfeit third party checks into his account, keep a percentage of the money and send the rest of the funds overseas.
On Nov. 15, 2006 Johnson deposited a check for $89,991 issued by First Sound Bank in Redmond, Washington, into his credit union account, which he had agreed to cash and remit to his accomplices. But instead he spent the money on a 2004 Ford Expedition, several vehicle accessories, a $5,000 diamond ring, numerous electronic items and a vacation to Georgia.
On December 5, 2006 Johnson deposited a check for $18,776.38, issued by Wells Fargo, into his credit union account. This check was returned as counterfeit during the clearing process and the money was never released to Johnson’s account. There had been over 80 attempts to negotiate the same counterfeit check nationwide.
The scam caused a loss of $57,495 to Andrews, which Johnson was ordered to repay as part of a plea agreement with federal prosecutors.
