Man pleads guilty to NRV Wal-Mart check cashing scheme

WSLS News Staff
Published: May 27, 2008

A man pleads guilty to his role in a check cashing scheme that targeted multiple local Wal-Marts.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says Anthony Oakes admitted to using fake payroll checks and stolen ID to get cash and buy items from multiple Wal-Marts.

Anthony Oakes

Federal investigators say between December 21 and December 23, 2007, Oakes and Bart Mullins used multiple counterfeit North Carolina drivers licenses.  The fake licenses contained a number of different names, but included the pictures of either Mullins or Oakes.

Bart Mullins

Court documents filed by investigators says Mullins used the fake names to cash or attempt to cash six counterfeit checks on December 23, 2007 at a number of Wal-Marts.  The couterfeit checks added up to $2,572.95.  Investigators say during the same time, Oakes also used a fake identity to cash or attempt to cash a fake check at a Wal-Mart for $293.71.

Investigators also say the pair had 13 fake payroll checks in their possesion when they were arrested.  Investigators say Mullins had eight of them, and Oakes had five of them.

The investigation revealed the fake checks had the names of legitimate businesses in North Carolina on them, but the owners did not know about the actions of Mullins and Oakes.

Federal agents chargd Oakes with six counts of uttering a couterfeit security, one count of ID document fraud, one count of bank fraud, one count of aggravated identity fraud, and conspriacy.  Oakes pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft.  He’ll be sentenced un August.

Federal agents charged Mullins with 14 counts of uttering a couterfeit security, two counts of ID document fraud, one count of bank fraud, one count of aggravated identity fraud, and conspriacy.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office tells us Mullins was released on bond after his arrest, and has since become a fugitive.