Politics & Government

Camden Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud, Weapons Possession

Derrick Warner admitted to participating in a scheme in which he and conspirators stole check and fraudulently cashed them.

A Camden man pleaded guilty to his role in a scheme to steal business checks from the U.S. Mail in Camden and Burlington counties in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware and altering them in order to cash them using a series of conspirators, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced on Wednesday.

Derrick Warner, 29, pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. Warner said he purchased a Smith and Wesson .44 Magnum handgun for a conspirator in March if this year, and was in possession of it.

After stealing checks from the mailboxes outside business industrial parks, Warner said he and co-conspirators would recruit someone to cash the stolen check and alter them so that the check was addressed to the person they recruited.

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Warner, the recruit and a conspirator would then travel together to cash the stolen check, Fishman said.

Warner said they attempted to cash more than 45 stolen business checks worth over $200,000, resulting in a loss of $100,000 for the banks that were victimized.

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Warner faces up to 30 years in jail and a $1 million fine or twice the gross gain or loss resulting from the offense for the bank fraud charge.

He faces 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the firearm possession charge.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 4, 2014.


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