Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today, Frank Powell a/k/a “Bread”, 29, Indianapolis, Ind., was sentenced to 134 months in federal prison for orchestrating a large-scale fraud ring, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
“Mr. Powell’s career of lies, deceit and fraud are over,” said Minkler. “Nothing says that louder than the sound of a federal prison door slamming shut on a 12 year sentence. This prosecution should remind those out there who defraud local businesses and banks – particularly those with lengthy criminal histories of theft, fraud, and deception – that they will face real consequences.”
From 2017 through April 2018, Powell and others presented and used fraudulent checks at Indianapolis Kroger stores and in at least 12 other states, to purchase gift cards and merchandise. Powell recruited and trained over 20 “runners” to cash checks at Kroger stores nationwide, including co-conspirators Javonte Wright, Anthony Duerson, and Antionne Brewster.
Powell printed the fraudulent checks and distributed them to the “runners”, and received a cut of the profits. The scope of this retail scheme was far-reaching, touching on at least 12 states with more than 5,000 fraudulent checks, resulting in losses exceeding $300,000.