County Man Admits Role in Massive Check Fraud Scheme

A Newark man pleaded guilty last week for his role in stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars using  personal checks sent through the mail, the US Attorney’s Office announced.

Hassan Childs, 25, along with others, obtained the blank checks, fraudulently endorsed them and wrote in various amounts, then deposited the checks in 258 accounts he and others opened. Childs and his co-conspirators used more than half a dozen banks, including TD Bank and Capital One.

Childs and others deposited $1.4 million in fraudulent checks stolen from 122 victims, resulting in a loss of $625,000.

He faces a maximum of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.