Carolyn Wall, 37, of Newark was sentenced yesterday in federal court to 81 months imprisonment and full restitution, after being convicted by a jury of 30 counts of fraud and identity theft in an elaborate scheme using counterfeit checks and computer software.
From around July 2010 through in or around May 2011 Wall used the computer software program, specialty check paper, and a particular type of check-writing ink to make hundreds of counterfeit checks. The defendant also used real bank names and routing numbers, but the account numbers on the checks were fabricated.
The defendant and other members of the scheme presented these fraudulent checks at area retail stores, including Acme, Wal-Mart, Happy Harry’s, Lowe’s, Boscov’s, Target, Safeway, Best Buy and Kohl’s. Checks created by the defendant were presented to retail stores more than 700 times, and more than 250 of the checks were honored, costing the stores more than $100,000 in less than a year.
In order to bypass the stores’ security systems, the defendant and the other members of the scheme amassed more than 200 names and social security numbers of individuals in Delaware and elsewhere. More than 65 social security numbers were used in attempts to cash the fraudulent checks. The defendant also collected a significant amount of driver’s licenses and other identification documents for the members of the scheme to use in cashing the fraudulent checks.
The defendant also used the Social Security number of another person to obtain the lease on her residence, as well as to obtain cable and power service. She had been convicted of similar charges in Virginia.
