Yellowhammer Times

A Jefferson County resident has been found guilty in federal court for participating in a scheme involving stolen checks, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.

Deizman Deandre Ellis, 24, of McCalla, Alabama, was convicted on five counts after a three-day trial before U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala. The charges included conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, possession of stolen mail, and fraudulent use of unauthorized access devices.

Evidence presented during the trial showed that Ellis played a leading role in a check cashing operation that took place between August 2023 and February 2024. The scheme involved stealing business and personal checks from blue postal boxes in Tuscaloosa, Alabama by using stolen postal keys. Ellis and others deposited these checks into accounts controlled by co-conspirators and then withdrew the funds.

In March, Eric Bernard Carter, Jr., 27, of Birmingham, Alabama, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud for his involvement in the same scheme.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with support from the Northport Police Department, Rainbow City Police Department, and Tuscaloosa Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brett A. Janich and William R. McComb are prosecuting the case.

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