Newark Reporter

Four men from southern New Jersey were charged with negotiating fraudulent checks that had been stolen from the mail, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.

Tracy Felder-Carter, 23, of Blackwood, New Jersey; Dante Ford, 28, of Pennsauken and Sewell, New Jersey; and Quamell Keyes-Griffin, 21, and Donovan Bunch, 22, both of Sicklerville, New Jersey, are each charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. They are scheduled to appear today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth A. Pascal.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Felder-Carter, Ford, Keyes-Griffin, and Bunch conspired to commit bank fraud by first obtaining checks that had been stolen from the U.S. mail. Members of the conspiracy then would alter the stolen checks by increasing the value of the check and changing the name of the payee to either a member of the conspiracy or somebody else recruited by the conspiracy. Members of the conspiracy or others would negotiate each altered check and attempt to withdraw the funds before the bank learned that the checks were illegitimate. The conspiracy involved the negotiation of hundreds of checks at banks across southern New Jersey and elsewhere, with each check written for amounts upwards of several thousand dollars.

The count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Philadelphia Division under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the Pennsylvania State Police – Media Station, Pennsauken Police Department, and Springfield Township (Pennsylvania) Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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