GUILTY PLEA

United States Attorney W. WALTER WILKINS stated today that Teresa Halsey Windham, age 35, of Wilmington, North Carolina, pled guilty today in federal court in Florence, to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349. United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten of Florence accepted the plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

Evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing established that Windham and Doris Gardner Canty, who previously pled guilty, conspired to and manufactured then passed counterfeit commercial checks drawn on various businesses with the intent to commit bank fraud. In January 2008, Windham and Canty, after manufacturing counterfeit checks in North Carolina, traveled to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and opened accounts at various branches at First Federal Bank. They then deposited or cashed the counterfeit checks at the bank. Windham and Canty made numerous trips to Myrtle Beach and would usually visit several branches of First Federal Bank making deposits and withdrawals using the counterfeit checks. They obtained a total of $10,826.00 before being caught. Canty was arrested by the North Myrtle Beach Police Department on January 22, 2008, while attempting to conduct a transaction at the First Federal Bank branch at 550 Highway 17 North Plaza at Gator Hole, North Myrtle Beach.

Mr. Wilkins stated the maximum penalty Windham can receive is a fine of $250,000.00 and/or imprisonment for 30 years, plus a special assessment of $100.00.

The case was investigated by Wilmington (NC) Police Department, North Myrtle Beach Police Department, Horry County Police Department and agents of the United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II of the Florence office handled the case.

SIMPSONVILLE WOMAN GUILTY IN FEDERAL COURT OF $235K PHANTOM BALANCE FRAUD

United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated that on February 24, 2009, Stephanie L. Meyer, age 38, of Simpsonville, South Carolina, pled guilty to defrauding two investment houses of approximately $305,000. The plea of guilty was accepted by District Court Judge G. Ross Anderson, Jr., who will sentence Meyer after the preparation of a presentence report. Meyer faces a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each of the two counts to which she pled guilty.

In February 2008, Meyer opened accounts at four brokerage firms including the ultimate victims, The Vanguard Group and Ameriprise Financial. Meyer then deposited worthless checks into the accounts, which resulted in fictitious or “phantom” balances. Meyer then withdrew $175,000.00 from the credited Vanguard account and $130,000 from the Ameriprise account before the fraud was detected.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David C. Stephens of Greenville.

N.C. WOMAN GUILTY IN MYRTLE BEACH BANK FRAUD

United States Attorney W. WALTER WILKINS stated today that Doris Gardner Canty, age 54, of Wilmington, North Carolina, pled guilty February 4, 2009 in federal court in Florence, to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349. United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten accepted the plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

In January 2008, Canty was involved in manufacturing counterfeit commercial checks in the Wilmington, North Carolina, area. Canty traveled to Myrtle Beach and opened accounts at First Federal Bank using the counterfeit checks. After making deposits into her account, Canty would make withdrawals on the account at other First Federal branches throughout Horry County. Canty was arrested in January 2008 while attempting to conduct a transaction at a First Federal branch when she was recognized by the manager who called the police.

Mr. Wilkins stated the maximum penalty Canty can receive is a fine of $1,000,000.00 and imprisonment for 30 years.

The case was investigated by agents of the North Myrtle Beach Police Department, the Wilmington Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II, of the Florence office handled the case.