Jeremiah Carbon has been sentenced to federal prison for his involvement in a scheme involving nearly $1.5 million in fraudulent money orders and for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan emphasized the importance of maintaining secure banking systems, stating, "Carbon took advantage of a monetary instrument intended to serve as a secure means for transferring funds and used it for his personal gain."
The U.S. Secret Service played a key role in the investigation. Frederick D. Houston, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Atlanta Field Office, remarked on Carbon's actions: “Carbon believed he could evade law enforcement when he resumed his criminal ways.” He further noted that the Secret Service adapts its methods to uncover financial schemes.
Court documents revealed that between December 2019 and September 2022, Carbon purchased approximately 1,500 money orders from retail stores across Georgia and other states using fake identities. He copied these money orders with fictitious names and deposited them into various bank accounts at five different federally insured banks. Some accounts were under Carbon’s name; others belonged to conspirators.
Surveillance footage captured Carbon buying and returning money orders at retail locations. During some transactions, he used fake driver’s licenses but made additional purchases with his actual debit card.
On February 22, 2022, Gwinnett County Sheriff's deputies stopped Carbon for an unrelated traffic violation and discovered blank money orders, receipts, a printer/copier, and a paper cutter in his vehicle. They also found him with a semi-automatic firearm despite being prohibited from possessing one due to prior felony convictions.
U.S District Judge Victoria M. Calvert sentenced Jeremiah Carbon, 36, from Lithonia, Georgia to three years and five months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty on June 6, 2024.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bethany L. Rupert and Alison Prout.
For more information contact the U.S Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.