Leader of South Georgia Check-Theft Ring Who Used a Stolen Postal Key and Recruited Account Holders on Facebook Gets 5 Years

Published Nov. 9, 2026. Case status is current as of that date.

A blue collection box is supposed to be a safe place to mail a check. Federal prosecutors say that, starting in 2022, a Thomasville man used a stolen postal key to open mail receptacles, took checks, altered or reprinted them, and recruited people, often on Facebook, to deposit them into their own bank accounts. On Oct. 30, 2026, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia announced that De'Andre Kenterrious L. McClarin, 28, of Thomasville, Georgia, had been sentenced to 60 months in prison [1].

Status: McClarin pleaded guilty on Dec. 30, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and was sentenced Oct. 28, 2026. Seven co-conspirators have also pleaded guilty and been sentenced, according to the release [1].

How the scheme worked

According to court documents and statements in court, as described by the U.S. Attorney's Office [1]:

• Beginning in January 2022, McClarin used a stolen postal key to break into U.S. Postal Service mail receptacles and collection boxes, stealing checks and check information.
• He edited checks and used a check printer to produce fraudulent ones.
• He recruited people, often on Facebook, to share their personal and bank information so he could deposit stolen and forged checks into their accounts and withdraw the money.
• Danmon Jerone Wilkerson was one of the people who shared his information, including setting up an account at JPMorgan Chase.
• The scheme targeted more than a dozen banks and credit unions, including Truist, Wells Fargo, TD Bank, Synovus, U.S. Bank, Bank of America, Navy Federal Credit Union and others named in the release.

Agents determined the conspiracy caused $115,936.05 in losses to banks and credit unions. The release does not name the people or businesses whose checks were stolen, and neither do we.

The people and their status

All details are from the U.S. Attorney's Office release [1]. Each person below pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Senior U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands presided.

• De'Andre Kenterrious L. McClarin, 28, Thomasville, Ga. Pleaded guilty Dec. 30, 2025; sentenced Oct. 28, 2026, to 60 months in prison and five years of supervised release.
• Danmon Jerone Wilkerson, 25, Tallahassee, Fla. Pleaded guilty March 19, 2026; sentenced Oct. 28, 2026, to 27 months in prison and five years of supervised release.
• McClarin and Wilkerson were ordered to pay combined restitution of $115,936.05.
• Kemareon Bryant, 28, Thomasville: sentenced June 18, 2026, to 18 months and three years of supervised release.
• Jerry Hayes, 54, Thomasville: sentenced Nov. 20, 2025, to 12 months and one day and three years of supervised release.
• Jaylen Filmore, 24, Thomasville: sentenced May 28, 2026, to one day in prison and three years of supervised release.
• Jelan Hayes, 28, Thomasville: sentenced Sept. 3, 2026, to one day in prison and three years of supervised release.
• Angela Cookley, 25, Tallahassee: sentenced June 18, 2026, to time served and three years of supervised release.
• Kembrick McClendon, 37, Thomasville: sentenced Aug. 20, 2026, to time served and three years of supervised release.

The release says the six other co-conspirators had "varying levels of involvement." The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Thomas County Sheriff's Office investigated, with help from the Thomasville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Couch prosecuted.

Why "lend us your account" offers are dangerous

This case shows a common pattern in check fraud: the person who steals the checks needs other people's bank accounts to cash them. Recruiting is often done on social media with promises of quick money for "just a deposit." In this case, eight people, including at least one account holder, Wilkerson, pleaded guilty to federal bank fraud conspiracy, according to the release. Even those with the lightest sentences received three years of supervised release.

Red flags

These are general warning signs, not claims about any person beyond what the court record shows.

• A post or message offers money to use your bank account, debit card or login for a deposit.
• Someone asks for your PIN, online banking password or account details to "send you" money.
• A check you mailed is cashed by someone else or for a different amount.
• A vendor or relative says your check never arrived.

What to do if you're targeted

• Mail checks inside the post office or hand them to a carrier, rather than leaving them in a collection box or your mailbox flag-up overnight.
• Use gel ink and pay electronically when possible.
• Watch your account online so you can spot a check cleared to an unknown payee.
• If a check was stolen, contact your bank immediately and report it to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at uspis.gov/report or 877-876-2455.
• Never let anyone else deposit money into your account. If you already did, stop, talk to a lawyer, and contact your bank.

Case status (as of Nov. 9, 2026)

All in U.S. District Court, Middle District of Georgia (Albany), before Senior Judge W. Louis Sands. Each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud [1].

Defendant	Status	Source
De'Andre Kenterrious L. McClarin, 28, Thomasville, Ga.	Sentenced Oct. 28, 2026: 60 months + 5 yrs supervised release; restitution (combined with Wilkerson) $115,936.05	[1]
Danmon Jerone Wilkerson, 25, Tallahassee, Fla.	Sentenced Oct. 28, 2026: 27 months + 5 yrs supervised release	[1]
Kemareon Bryant, 28, Thomasville	Sentenced June 18, 2026: 18 months + 3 yrs	[1]
Jerry Hayes, 54, Thomasville	Sentenced Nov. 20, 2025: 12 months and 1 day + 3 yrs	[1]
Jaylen Filmore, 24, Thomasville	Sentenced May 28, 2026: 1 day + 3 yrs	[1]
Jelan Hayes, 28, Thomasville	Sentenced Sept. 3, 2026: 1 day + 3 yrs	[1]
Angela Cookley, 25, Tallahassee	Sentenced June 18, 2026: time served + 3 yrs	[1]
Kembrick McClendon, 37, Thomasville	Sentenced Aug. 20, 2026: time served + 3 yrs	[1]

Statuses can change. The release does not give a case number.

Sources

1. U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Georgia, "Leader of South Georgia Check-Theft and Forgery Scheme Sentenced to Prison," Oct. 30, 2026. https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/leader-south-georgia-check-theft-and-forgery-scheme-sentenced-prison

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