A federal court in Alabama has sentenced six individuals involved in a scheme to sell stolen checks and bank login information through Telegram channels, including “The Lucky Shop.” The operation exploited postal and financial system vulnerabilities, leading to significant financial fraud.
Key Sentences:
- Joshua Kendarius Rogers (Irondale, AL): Administrator of “The Lucky Shop,” sentenced to 90 months in prison for conspiracy to pay bribes, wire and bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
- Michael Christopher Rowser (Birmingham, AL): Former U.S. Postal Service employee who stole checks and sold them to Rogers, sentenced to 70 months. He received approximately $106,000 in bribes over a year.
- Duane Wiley Smith (Springville, AL): Administrator of “The Lucky Shop” and other channels, sentenced to 48 months for conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
- Levar McGhee-Parrish (Fultondale, AL): Administrator of “The Lucky Shop” and “GRUBHUB,” sentenced to 40 months for conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud.
These individuals were part of a broader crackdown on scam Telegram channels operating out of Alabama. The operation involved the sale of tens of millions of dollars in stolen checks.
Investigative Agencies:
The case was investigated by the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and U.S. Secret Service. Prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward J. Canter and Daniel S. McBrayer.
For more information on cybercrime, visit the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
This case underscores the ongoing threat of cyber-enabled financial fraud and the importance of vigilance in protecting personal and financial information.
