Thomasville Man Gets 5 Years for $115,000 Check Theft Scheme
ALBANY, Georgia – A 28-year-old Thomasville man who led a check theft and forgery scheme in South Georgia received 60 months in federal prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Investigators put the losses to banks and credit unions at $115,936.05.
28-year-old De’Andre Kenterrious L. McClarin also will serve five years of supervised release after his prison term. He received the sentence on October 28 after pleading guilty December 30, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Second defendant gets 27 months
25-year-old Danmon Jerone Wilkerson of Tallahassee, Florida, received 27 months in prison and five years of supervised release the same day. He pleaded guilty to the same charge on March 19.
The two men must pay a combined $115,936.05 in restitution. Senior U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands presided over the case. There is no parole in the federal system.
How the scheme worked
According to court documents and statements made in court, McClarin began in January 2022 using a stolen postal key to open U.S. Postal Service mail receptacles and collection boxes. He took checks and check information, edited the checks and used a check printer to make fraudulent ones.
McClarin recruited people, often on Facebook, to share their personal and bank information. That let him deposit the stolen and forged checks into their accounts and withdraw the money. Wilkerson was one of those recruits and set up an account at JP Morgan Chase Bank.
The scheme also targeted Truist, Wells Fargo, TD Bank, Synovus, U.S. Bank, Prime Meridian, Bank of America, Capital City Bank, Centennial Bank, Peoples South Bank, Ameris, VyStar Credit Union, Navy Federal Credit Union and TC Federal Credit Union.
Six other co-conspirators sentenced
Six other people with varying levels of involvement faced federal charges, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and received sentences:
- 28-year-old Kemareon Bryant of Thomasville received 18 months in prison and three years of supervised release on June 18.
- 54-year-old Jerry Hayes of Thomasville received 12 months and one day in prison and three years of supervised release on November 20, 2025.
- 24-year-old Jaylen Filmore of Thomasville received one day in prison and three years of supervised release on May 28.
- 28-year-old Jelan Hayes of Thomasville received one day in prison and three years of supervised release on September 3.
- 25-year-old Angela Cookley of Tallahassee, Florida, received time served and three years of supervised release on June 18.
- 37-year-old Kembrick McClendon of Thomasville received time served and three years of supervised release on August 20.
Officials respond
“Stealing checks and forging financial documents is not a victimless crime. These types of schemes siphon money from hardworking individuals and local businesses, causing real financial harm across our communities,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Thanks to the outstanding work of our federal and local law enforcement partners, this conspiracy has been dismantled, and those responsible are being held accountable.”
“The sentencings demonstrate the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s dedication to safeguarding the nation’s mail system by partnering with our law enforcement partners to combat mail theft,” said Rodney M. Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division. “Let this be a warning: if you abuse the U.S. Postal Service and exploit the public’s trust for personal gain then you will be held accountable.”
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Thomasville Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Couch prosecuted the case, with help from Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Bryant and Criminal Chief Leah McEwen.
