Chicago Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison

HAMMOND - Shawn Edwards, 34 years old, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to wire fraud announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.

Edwards was sentenced to 18 months in prison, 2 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $189,850 in restitution to the victims of the offense.

According to documents in the case, between July 2020 and September 2021, Edwards was the leader and organizer of a fraud ring which stole checks that had been placed in the care of the United States Postal Service intended to be sent to local Indiana businesses. The payee on each stolen check was then altered so that the check could be cashed by Edwards or one of his associates. In total, Edwards and his associates were able to cash or deposit $189,850 in stolen funds over the time period of the scheme. Edwards' co-defendant is scheduled to be sentenced later this year.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Office of Inspector General for the United States Postal Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas M. McGrath.