By: Richard L. Smith
A former New Jersey resident has admitted his involvement in a scheme that defrauded banks using stolen checks and other criminal activities, according to U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger.
Dezhon McCrae, 25, formerly of Penns Grove, pleaded guilty in Camden federal court to multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit bank fraud, possession of stolen mail, and aggravated identity theft.
From 2018 to 2020, McCrae participated in a "card cracking" conspiracy, where stolen checks were used to create counterfeit checks and deposited into compromised bank accounts.
The scheme defrauded banks of over $274,000, with McCrae's involvement leading to more than $10,000 in losses.
McCrae also took part in a second, nearly identical scheme in 2022, resulting in another $14,000 loss to a different bank.
Additional charges included possession of stolen mail, using a fraudulent ID, and conspiring to rob postal workers for their mailbox keys.
McCrae faces up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.