Opinion ID: 170197
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Fraudulent Scheme Involving Jenkins

Text: While serving a 105-month sentence at the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas, for fourteen counts of bank fraud, one count of making, uttering and possessing a counterfeit security, and one count of failure to appear, Akers placed an advertisement for a pen pal in a magazine. Anita Jenkins answered the ad and began corresponding with Akers in writing and on the telephone. Akers convinced Jenkins he had been falsely accused, told her he had a trust fund account and asked her to help him re-start a business he had prior to his incarceration. Jenkins agreed to help him. Akers sent her a power of attorney and had her purchase computer software which would allow her to create checks. He also had her open accounts at Fidelity Brokerage Services (Fidelity) and First Union Bank. After these accounts were opened, Akers directed Jenkins to create two checks in the amounts of $35,000 and $25,000 and deposit them into the Fidelity account. He provided her the routing and account numbers. She believed the money was coming from his trust fund account. Akers then directed Jenkins to wire $58,000 from the Fidelity account to the First Union Bank account. Jenkins later created a third check for $35,000 and deposited it into the Fidelity account. Jenkins also created checks or initiated wire transfers totaling $57,000 from the -2- First Union Bank account to various individuals. Jenkins did not learn she was creating worthless checks and engaging in fraudulent activity until she was contacted by law enforcement officers. As a result of the above scheme, Fidelity and Bank of America (which negotiates Fidelity’s financial transactions) suffered actual losses of $22,236.77 and $20,000, respectively. Akers was subsequently indicted with five counts of wire fraud.