Two West Palm Beach men have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a multi-million-dollar check fraud scheme that exploited stolen business checks and fake corporations across Florida and Georgia.
On June 13, Jeremiah Wolliston, 23, was sentenced to 168 months (14 years) in prison, while Keith Patrick, 38, received a 72-month (6-year) sentence. Both had pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from a conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
According to court documents, from December 2022 to May 2024, Wolliston and Patrick conspired with others to purchase stolen business checks from the mail. The checks were then altered and deposited into bank accounts opened under the names of fictitious corporations. These sham companies, established using the names of legitimate businesses, were created in Florida and Georgia.
Once the stolen checks were deposited, Wolliston and Patrick quickly moved the funds through ATM and counter withdrawals, wire transfers, and by writing checks to co-conspirators. Investigators say the fraud resulted in more than $4.5 million in losses.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
The investigation was conducted by USPIS, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, the West Palm Beach Police Department, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosenfeld prosecuted the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitch Hyman is handling asset forfeiture proceedings.
