West Valley man sentenced after stealing over $8 million in check theft scheme

PHOENIX — A West Valley man is headed to prison after admitting to stealing over $8 million in a check theft scheme involving the U.S. mail service, according to the United States Attorney’s Office District of Arizona (USAO).

Cory Jermaine White, 31, of Goodyear, was sentenced to nine years in prison on Wednesday after pleading guilty to conspiring to commit bank and wire fraud and money laundering in December 2024.

A press release from USAO said that the scheme took place over multiple years and involved White and six co-conspirators, who were not named but have already entered guilty pleas and received prison sentences.

How did the check theft scheme work?

In the scheme, one co-conspirator would steal a parcel of mail containing a check meant for a legitimate business.

A second co-conspirator would then create a fake business, mainly in states outside of Arizona, using the name of the business listed on the check.

White and the other suspects would then open a corporate bank account for the fake business, deposit the stolen check, cash the check and then split the cash.

“White stole nearly $8.5 million in checks meant for legitimate businesses and used the money for lavish expenditures,” U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine said in the release. “His actions not only impacted the victims but also undermined the integrity of our financial systems.”

Along with his time behind bars, White was ordered to pay back the amount he stole in restitution.

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