Georgia daycare worker sentenced in 'Operation Homeless' fraud scheme targeting NKY banks
A Georgia daycare worker will spend time behind bars for his role in a group that recruited people from public libraries and homeless shelters to participate in a scheme to defraud banks in numerous states, including Kentucky.
DeAngelo Wilson, 29, was sentenced Monday in federal court in Covington to 30 months in prison for his role in the conspiracy, which prosecutors say involved at least eight others and was dubbed "Operation Homeless."
He pleaded guilty in U.S. District Judge David Bunning's courtroom in October to a single count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Those involved in the conspiracy are primarily from the Atlanta area and traveled to Northern Kentucky at least five times in 2018.
Prosecutors said in court filings that the group stayed at local motels, stole checks from business mailboxes and changed the names of the intended recipients to those of locals recruited to cash the checks. They successfully cashed one such check at a Crestview Hills bank and tried to cash others at banks in Fort Mitchell.
Wilson was a "recruiter" who solicited others to cash the stolen checks, prosecutors said. His attorney has yet to respond to messages from The Enquirer seeking comment on the case.
The check cashers were paid a flat fee and the conspiracy's other members split the remaining proceeds, prosecutors said, adding the group stole as much as $40,000 to $95,000.
Wilson participated in similar conduct in Pennsylvania and Florida, according to his plea agreement. Prosecutors said a check casher was arrested in Pennsylvania and identified Wilson as one of the people who recruited them.
"DeAngelo admits wrongdoing and takes responsibility for his actions," his attorney wrote in a presentence court filing.
The scheme spanned numerous other states, such as Maryland, Missouri, Tennessee, South Carolina and Oklahoma. Most other members of the conspiracy were sentenced much earlier, including:
Antonio McCoy, who was ordered in June 2020 to 40 months in prison.
Tylus Echols, who received a 72-month prison term in July 2020.
Jeremy Morris, who was sentenced in July 2020 to 36 months.
Jamarr Myhan, who received a 15-month sentence in June 2020.
Bianca Norwood, who was sentenced in September 2020 to two months.
Selina Petty, who was ordered in January 2021 to two months behind bars.
Chandrea Phillips, who was sentenced in August 2020 to time served.
While McCoy was the first to be arrested in December 2018 during a trip to Northern Kentucky, court records show Wilson wasn't apprehended until May 2024.
Before his arrest, Wilson worked for three years at a daycare owned and operated by his mother, according to court documents.
"DeAngelo realizes that participating in such activities with this group, and the 'get easy money' attitude, is not the answer to a successful life," his attorney wrote. "He fully understands that, in the future, he will have to work hard to provide the support his family needs, and is committed to doing so."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Man sentenced in 'Operation Homeless' fraud scheme in NKY
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