United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

RINGLEADER IN BANK FRAUD SCHEME SENTENCED

Scheme Involved More Than $330,000 in Counterfeit Deposits

DALLAS — The ringleader in a bank fraud scheme that operated in Dallas from September 2005 until March 2007, Steven McGowan, was sentenced today to 46 months in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. At this morning’s sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge David C. Godbey also ordered McGowan, 39, to pay $244,944.45 in restitution.

McGowan, and his seven co-defendants involved in the scheme, were arrested in March 2007 on charges outlined in an indictment that had been returned by a grand jury in Dallas. Six of those seven co-defendants have pled guilty and have been sentenced.

In court documents, McGowan admitted that he initiated and organized a bank fraud scheme in which certain individuals were recruited to open personal checking accounts at View Point Bank, formerly known as Community Credit Union. These personal checking accounts were used to deposit personal and corporate counterfeit checks so that the funds could be withdrawn. McGowan obtained the banking information of the account holders, to whom he paid varying sums of money, and deposited counterfeit checks, many of which he created on a computer, into their accounts. McGowan, either individually or assisted by his co-defendants, withdrew the funds for personal use.

McGowan admitted that he personally recruited or was assisted by each of the co-defendants in the case, including his sister, Roelisa McGowan, his girlfriend, Sarah Holmes, Daniel Autry, Janese Autry, Rockie Thompson, Justin Pullen and Vicky Derricks. In September, Roelisa McGowan, 30, was also sentenced to 46 months in prison and ordered to pay $244,944.45 restitution, jointly and severally with McGowan.

Total deposits of $334,574.29 in counterfeit funds were made in this scheme.

McGowan also pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. When he was arrested at Sarah Holmes’ residence, officers found a .22 caliber revolver and ammunition under the bed. McGowan is a convicted felon, having two drug convictions in the 204th Judicial District Court in Dallas County, Texas.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the U.S. Secret Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Saldaña.

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