Kent man sentenced as part of large bank fraud ring

A Kent man, the final member of a large bank fraud ring responsible for nearly $1 million in fraud, received a 25-month prison sentence last week in U.S. District Court in Seattle.

A Kent man, the final member of a large bank fraud ring responsible for nearly $1 million in fraud, received a 25-month prison sentence last week in U.S. District Court in Seattle.

Shawn Andre Turner, 26, also received five years of supervised release from U.S. District Court Judge Richard A. Jones on Oct. 7, according to a U.S. Attorney’s Office media release.

Turner is the last of five defendants sentenced to prison terms of more than two years. In all, 10 defendants were indicted for a fraud scheme involving seven financial institutions. Between November 2010 and February 2015, the co-schemers used 219 bank accounts to steal more than $987,000 from the banks.

Turner was responsible for fraud on 15 bank accounts, causing a loss of about $80,000. He pleaded guilty to three counts of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft on April 28.

According to records in the case, the defendants used stolen and forged checks to make fraudulent deposits into various bank accounts. Using debit cards, the co-schemers would withdraw large amounts of cash before the bank determined the checks used to inflate the balance were no good.

Many of the people whose bank accounts were inflated were complicit in the fraud, allowing the co-schemers to use their debit cards. According to law enforcement records, many of the checks were stolen in car prowls and then used for the fraud. Others were fictitious, using otherwise legitimate account information on fabricated checks.

The victim banks included Bank of America, Boeing Employees Credit Union (BECU), TwinStar Credit Union, Wells Fargo Bank, Sound Credit Union, Key Bank and Banner Bank. All are federally insured financial institutions.

The other defendants previously sentenced include:

• Clayton Leon Bias, Jr., 27, Kent, two years in prison

• Relonna Dollinn Ward, 36, Tacoma, 25 months in prison

• Calvin Dewayne Davis, 28, Federal Way, 42 months in prison

• Arthur Napoleand Wilcher, 31, Tacoma, 42 months in prison

Four other defendants, Okila Ayanna Malayka Ulmer, 33, of Renton, Avery Edward Lee, 34, of Milton, Sephora Quilyn Watkins, 29, of Tacoma and Johnathan Marquiel Turner, 24, of Federal Way, were responsible for smaller amounts of fraud and were sentenced to brief periods of incarceration and multi-year terms of court supervision. One defendant successfully completed federal drug court.

The U.S. Secret Service and the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website http://kowloonland.com.hk/?big=submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

Courtesy Photo, King County
Prolific tagger faces charges for damage to Kent water tower

Man one of dozens who reportedly tagged properties across King County, including West Hill tower

t
Federal Way man charged in Kent I-5 crash that killed passenger

Documents state that evidence reportedly showed he was the driver, but he blamed the passenger.

The Kent Police Department went all out with their “Moana” themed display - even Maui showed up. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.
The Hogwarts Express pulls into Battle of the Badges | Photos

The 2024 Battle of the Badges took over the Renton Technical College on Dec. 14.

Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent Police
City of Kent crime numbers drop in 2024 compared to 2023

Vehicle thefts, commercial burglaries and robberies see big decreases

Courtesy Photo, Kent School District
Kent School District says it ‘will do better next time’ with school closures

Late notifications issued about closures after Dec. 18 windstorm

t
Kent Police arrest pair for downtown robbery of pedestrian

Reportedly used pepper spray to attack Kent man, 56, as he walked on sidewalk Dec. 16

Meeker Middle School, one of six schools closed Wednesday, Dec. 18 in the Kent School District due to power outages from a windstorm. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Windstorm causes closure of six Kent schools due to power outages

Four elementary, two middle schools closed Wednesday, Dec. 18; couple of city roads closed

Volunteers wrap gifts during the 2023 Toys for Joy program. COURTESY PHOTO, Puget Sound Fire
Puget Sound Fire puts out plea for more Toys for Joy donations

Toys needed for children ages 9 to 12; more bikes, scooters requested; deadline is Dec. 20

t
Kent man, 19, faces multiple charges after pursuit near Wenatchee

Driver reportedly fails to stop for state trooper, crashes stolen vehicle along State Route 97

Kent School District Board Director Awale Farah, left, and Superintendent Israel Vela at a high school graduation last summer. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Awale Farah resigns immediately from Kent School Board

Says because of ‘family commitments’ he cannot fulfill rest of his term that expires in November 2025

t
Kent’s Lower Russell Levee project receives John Spellman Award

City, King County Flood District and other partners recognized for historic preservation

Northwood Middle School, 17007 SE 184th St., in unincorporated part of King County in Renton and part of the Kent School District. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Calls about man trying to access Northwood Middle School causes lockdown

Deputies arrest man for investigation of resisting arrest, obstruction at Kent School District property