Lithonia Man Sentenced to Over Three Years for $1.5 Million Money Order Fraud

Jeremiah Carbon has been sentenced to federal prison for depositing nearly $1.5 million in fraudulent money orders into accounts at several metro Atlanta banks, as well as for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan stated, “Carbon took advantage of a monetary instrument intended to serve as a secure means for transferring funds and used it for his personal gain.” He emphasized the importance of maintaining the security of banking systems, noting that millions of Americans depend on these institutions.

Frederick D. Houston, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Atlanta Field Office, added, “Carbon believed he could evade law enforcement when he resumed his criminal ways. What he learned is that the Secret Service consistently adapts our methods to uncover illicit financial schemes.”

According to the court, between December 2019 and September 2022, Carbon purchased nearly 1,500 money orders from retail stores in Georgia and at least two other states using fake names and driver’s licenses, many of which were legitimate numbers of other individuals. Carbon made copies of the blank money orders, filled them out with fictitious names, and deposited them into multiple bank accounts at five federally insured banks. Some accounts were in Carbon’s name, while others belonged to his conspirators. After depositing the copied money orders, Carbon returned the originally purchased money orders to various retail stores for refunds, totaling nearly $1.5 million.

Surveillance cameras recorded Carbon at several retail locations buying and returning money orders. In some instances, he used a fake driver’s license for purchases and then made additional transactions using his actual debit card.

On February 22, 2022, deputies from the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office stopped Carbon for an unrelated traffic violation. During the stop, they discovered multiple blank money orders, a receipt for recently purchased money orders, a printer/copier, and a paper cutter. Additionally, Carbon was found in possession of a semi-automatic firearm, which he was prohibited from having due to his status as a convicted felon.

Jeremiah Carbon, 36, of Lithonia, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Victoria M. Calvert to three years and five months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was convicted on charges of bank fraud conspiracy, bank fraud, and being a felon in possession of a firearm after pleading guilty on June 6, 2024.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bethany L. Rupert and Alison Prout prosecuted the case.