PHILADELPHIA, PA — Federal prosecutors have charged two men in what authorities allege was a multi-state scheme to steal, alter, and cash U.S. Treasury checks worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to an indictment announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
United States Attorney David Metcalf said Ibrahim Tougouma, 24, of Philadelphia, and Tyler Glenn-Hayward, 21, of Pennsauken, New Jersey, were charged by federal indictment with conspiracy to steal government funds, two counts of bank fraud, and possession of stolen mail. Glenn-Hayward was also charged with four counts of theft of government funds.
According to the indictment, between approximately May 2024 and August 2024, the defendants allegedly conspired with each other and others to steal Treasury checks issued by the federal government and convert the funds for personal use, despite knowing they were not entitled to the money.
Prosecutors allege the scheme involved altering stolen Treasury checks and depositing counterfeit versions at financial institutions. The indictment claims Glenn-Hayward altered and counterfeited checks at Tougouma’s direction and received payments from Tougouma through peer-to-peer payment applications in exchange for the work.
The indictment details that on or about May 24, 2024, Tougouma allegedly sent Glenn-Hayward a photograph of a stolen Treasury check issued by the Social Security Administration to a victim identified as M.O. in the amount of $15,926.25. Prosecutors allege Tougouma asked Glenn-Hayward to alter the payee information and create a counterfeit version of the check. After Glenn-Hayward allegedly received a $100 payment, he produced and sent Tougouma counterfeit versions of the check, which prosecutors say Tougouma later caused to be deposited at an ATM in Wilmington, Delaware.
The indictment further alleges that on or about July 11, 2024, the defendants exchanged messages discussing the resale and deposit of Treasury checks. Glenn-Hayward allegedly instructed Tougouma to send another image, which prosecutors say was a stolen Treasury check issued by the Internal Revenue Service to a victim identified as G.M. in the amount of $173,194. Glenn-Hayward allegedly altered the check, which prosecutors say was deposited the following day at an ATM in Annapolis, Maryland.
In addition, the indictment alleges that in April 2024, Glenn-Hayward separately stole and deposited four Treasury checks totaling more than $6,000 in government benefits to which he allegedly knew he was not entitled.
If convicted, Tougouma faces a maximum possible sentence of up to 70 years in federal prison, while Glenn-Hayward faces a maximum possible sentence of up to 110 years. Sentences would be determined by a federal judge.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Megan Curran.
All charges and allegations contained in the indictment are accusations only. Each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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