Eric Lamont Salvant, 35, has been sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison for his involvement in a check fraud scheme. Salvant pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy that involved obtaining stolen checks via an encrypted messaging app and altering them to create counterfeit checks.
Court documents show that Salvant worked with two other individuals to deposit these altered or counterfeit checks into bank accounts set up under the names of various money mules he recruited. The group then quickly withdrew the proceeds as cash.
The operation came to light when a bank teller in Shallotte notified police about an attempt to deposit a counterfeit check. During the investigation, police found Salvant trying to hide a bag containing more than 50 stolen and counterfeit checks and over 30 debit cards with different names on a grocery store shelf while his coconspirators were being arrested outside.
W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announced the sentencing. The United States Secret Service led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Cogburn prosecuted the case.
