Last of the Defendants Involved in the Wal-Mart Check Cashing Scheme Pleads Guilty

       Montgomery, Ala. – Audrey Valisha Porterfield, 44, of Montgomery, Alabama, pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring to steal federal funds, announced George L. Beck, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama.  Previously, all six of Porterfield’s co-defendants pleaded guilty to the same offense.  Those co-defendants were: Courtney Deon Gardner, 26; Joye Nicole Perdum, 31; Tamala Caprice Avery, 34; Tocory Dewayne Washington, 31; Brittney Kae Ball, 33; and Joshua Jerome Bean, 25, all from Montgomery.  The defendants’ convictions stemmed from their involvement in a scheme to cash fraudulent United States Treasury checks at the Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. store on Ann Street in Montgomery.

       According to court documents, Gardner and Ball worked as tellers in the money center of the Ann Street Wal-Mart store.  Porterfield was a cashier.  While on their jobs, Gardner, Ball, and Porterfield cashed fraudulent and stolen Treasury checks brought to the store by the other members of the scheme—Washington, Bean, Perdum, and Avery.  The seven co-conspirators shared the proceeds of the fraudulently cashed checks.  The investigation revealed that the scheme resulted in a total loss of around $290,000.00 to the victims—including the United States Government and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

       Each defendant faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in federal prison.  Chief United States District Judge Keith Watkins will sentence all defendants on July 20, 2016 at 9:30 AM. 

       The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Montgomery Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross is prosecuting the case.