A fraudulent scheme involving check cashing that netted almost 400k ended with a 20-year federal prison sentence for a 42-year-old Shreveport man.
The sentence for Carlos A. Spann was announced on Tuesday, October 29, by Chief US District Judge S Maurice Hicks, Jr. following a four-day trial in February.
Spann was also ordered to pay restitution of $399,723.04 to WalMart Global Investigations and Tower Loan.The convicted fraudster was also ordered to serve an additional five years of supervised release following the completion of his prison sentence.
Spann allegedly conspired to use fraudulent identities at retail locations and banks throughout Louisiana.
Evidence presented in court showed Spann allegedly altered identification card overlays with checks drawn on bank accounts of Tower Loan.
Video cameras captured the altered identification cards being used.
The long sentence likely stemmed from Carlos Spann's two-decade history of fraud crimes, and the convicted man had nine prior offenses of white-collar crime.
“This offender made a career out of defrauding the people and businesses of Louisiana out of their hard-earned money,” U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph said. “The 20-year sentence handed down... should send a clear message to others that might consider engaging in this type of criminal activity.”
