Louisiana Man Charged in Forged Check Scam and Theft of Mail Faces Possibility of 40+ Years if Convicted

Louisiana– On June 21, 2022, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Gregory Joseph Hernandez, age 67, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was indicted on June 10, 2022 for one count of Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, six counts of Bank Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344(2), and two counts of Theft of Mail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1708. The indictment was previously sealed and unsealed on June 17, 2022.

Hernandez allegedly stole checks from the mail and forged information on the stolen checks, according to the indictment. Hernandez and his co-conspirators then deposited and cashed the altered checks at New Orleans-area financial institutions.

U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that an indictment is only a charge and that the defendant’s guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, Hernandez faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 for Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud; a maximum of thirty years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for each count of Bank Fraud; and a maximum of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250, A special assessment fee of $100 per count is also required.

In this investigation, U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Postal Inspection Service and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Maria Carboni is in charge of the prosecution in this case.