US authorities have sentenced Georgia resident Cyianna Woods to 5 years in prison for wire fraud and money laundering in a scheme that defrauded more than 300 Walmart stores of over $850,000. Woods will also serve three years of supervised release and pay $923,915 in restitution.
During 2013-19, Woods and co-conspirator Andre White ran a counterfeit bank check and wire fraud scheme, defrauding 300 Walmart stores in 24 US states. They made counterfeit checks and cashed them at Walmart stores. Through this scheme, the defendants managed to obtain over $850,000 in Walmart shopping cards, pre-paid debit cards, gift cards, and other merchandise. Woods and White then laundered the illicit funds by buying pre-paid debit cards from other retail stores.
Woods and White had both pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering. White had previously received a sentence of 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in the conspiracy.
Source: US Department of Justice