Alabama Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Role in Fraudulent Telegram Channel

Disclosure: State of Alabama-based writer. This article is a work from cited sources for informational purposes and is used with permission. No affiliate links are included.

(Alabama)- According to the Northern District of Alabama, on September 12, 2024, an Alabama man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his involvement in operating a Telegram channel that facilitated the sale of stolen and fraudulent checks worth millions of dollars.

The individual, identified as 25-year-old Mekhi Diwone Harris, pleaded guilty in April 2024 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. U.S. District Judge Madeline Haikala handed down a 120-month prison sentence and ordered Harris to forfeit $160,000 in illegally obtained funds.

Mekhi Diwone HarrisPhoto byMugshot Zones, US Attorney

According to the plea agreement, from April 2022 to August 2023, Harris managed the "Work Related" Telegram channel under the handle "@O1ihk." The channel was responsible for selling more than 1,000 stolen or fraudulent checks, targeting victims that included businesses, schools, churches, non-profit organizations, and individuals. The total value of these checks exceeded $10 million.

“Check fraud is a growing national problem,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “Channels like the one operated by the defendant serve as a hub for scammers to acquire stolen financial instruments. Thanks to the collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama and law enforcement, we successfully brought the administrator of this fraudulent network to justice.”

Special Agent in Charge Peeples added, “Fraud threatens not only our national security but also impacts our daily lives. The FBI is dedicated to working with partners to pursue those who exploit others for financial gain. This sentencing should serve as a stark warning to anyone considering involvement in similar criminal activity.”

Alabamians at Risk

In July 2024, Business Alabama Magazine reported that check fraud has increased over the past three or four years due to check washing.

A former general counsel for Compass Bank and Cadence Bank, now serving as special counsel for the American Bankers Association (ABA), describes how check fraud operates in the digital age. “Crooks steal a check and digitally alter the payee and dollar amount,” explains Powell. “They then reprint the modified information on another check and present it to a bank, typically a large institution handling millions of transactions daily. The check is deposited into an account, and by the time anyone detects the fraud, the criminal has already withdrawn the money and disappeared.” This digital theft is enabled by advanced tools used by fraudsters.

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