Atlanta Man Sentenced for Million-Dollar Money Order Scheme

ATLANTA - Jeremiah Carbon has been sentenced to federal prison for depositing nearly $1.5 million in fraudulent money orders into accounts at several metro Atlanta banks and for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

"Carbon took advantage of a monetary instrument intended to serve as a secure means for transferring funds and used it for his personal gain," said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. "Maintaining the security of our banking systems is paramount as millions of Americans rely on these institutions to protect and grow their finances. Thanks to the investigative efforts of our law enforcement partners at the U.S. Secret Service, Carbon will be held accountable and will face the consequences for his crimes."

"Carbon believed he could evade law enforcement when he resumed his criminal ways," said Frederick D. Houston, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Atlanta Field Office. "What he learned is that the Secret Service consistently adapts our methods to uncover illicit financial schemes. We are mandated to safeguard our nation's critical financial infrastructure and will continue to deploy every asset to do just that."

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Between December 2019 and September 2022, Carbon purchased nearly 1,500 money orders from retail stores in Georgia and at least two other states using fake names and fake driver's licenses, many of which were legitimate driver's license numbers of individuals. Carbon made copies of the blank money orders, completed those money orders with fictitious purchasers' names, and then deposited the copied money orders into one of multiple bank accounts in at least five different federally insured banks. Some of the bank accounts were in Carbon's name, and others were in the names of his conspirators. After Carbon deposited the copied money orders into the bank accounts, he returned all of the originally purchased blank money orders to the various retail stores and received refunds. Carbon purchased, copied, deposited, and then returned almost 1,500 money orders totaling nearly $1.5 million.

Carbon was also recorded on surveillance cameras at the various retail store locations buying and returning the money orders. In some instances, after using a fake driver's license to purchase money orders, Carbon made additional purchases from the retail store using his actual debit card.

On February 22, 2022, deputies with the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office conducted a traffic stop while Carbon was driving due to an unrelated traffic violation. During the stop, deputies discovered multiple blank money orders, a receipt for the recently purchased money orders, a printer/copier, and a paper cutter. Additionally, Carbon was found to be in possession of a semi-automatic firearm, which he was prohibited from possessing due to his status as a convicted felon.

Jeremiah Carbon, 36, of Lithonia, Georgia was sentenced by U.S District Judge Victoria M. Calvert to three years, five months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Carbon was convicted on charges of bank fraud conspiracy, bank fraud, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, after he pleaded guilty on June 6, 2024.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bethany L. Rupert and Alison Prout prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney's Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.