Macon Check Cashing Manager Pleads Guilty in Bank Fraud Case Tied to $3 Million Scheme
The manager of a Macon check cashing business has pleaded guilty to filing false financial reports as part of a broader bank fraud conspiracy involving a Morris Bank branch in Gray, Georgia.
James Kevin Meyers, 57, of Gray, pleaded guilty on February 18 before U.S. District Judge Marc T. Treadwell to one count of causing the filing of false currency transaction reports. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a $500,000 fine. A sentencing date has not yet been set. There is no parole in the federal system.
The charge stems from a larger investigation into fraudulent loan activity connected to Morris Bank.
In related cases, Ronnie Atkinson, 57, of Macon, was sentenced on February 5 to 84 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. He was also ordered to pay $3,357,073.21 in restitution.
Alan Childs, 60, of Gray, who served as Market President at Morris Bank, was sentenced on September 17, 2025, to 12 months and one day in prison. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and was ordered to pay $3,094,200.98 in restitution.
According to court documents, Meyers managed Mr. Kevin’s Check Cashing in Macon, a money services business required under the Bank Secrecy Act to file Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs) for transactions exceeding $10,000.
Prosecutors said Atkinson obtained numerous loans from Morris Bank, some in his own name and others using straw borrowers, with assistance from Childs. The loans were often purportedly for equipment purchases. The bank issued loan proceeds or cashier’s checks to listed sellers.
Atkinson allegedly brought multiple Morris Bank checks to Mr. Kevin’s Check Cashing and cashed them without the listed payees present. Although Atkinson presented and received the cash, the CTRs filed listed the payees instead of Atkinson.
Meyers either personally cashed the checks for Atkinson or directed employees to do so and caused the CTRs to be filed with inaccurate information, according to prosecutors.
In 2022 alone, five checks were cashed in amounts of $166,788, $117,409, $93,338, $126,743, and $280,013.
“This investigation shows we will hold all participants in financial crimes accountable,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Such schemes harm our community and will not be tolerated.”
Robert Gibbs, Supervisory Senior Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta’s Macon office, added, “Whether someone is committing fraud directly or helping conceal it, we will continue holding every participant accountable for abusing positions of trust and enabling million-dollar schemes.”
The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Howard is prosecuting the case.
