EAST ST. LOUIS, ILL. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Illinois, Southern), published as received.
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Aijeigh McShan, 20, of Fairview Heights, Illinois, pled guilty today to
conspiracy and bank fraud charges in federal court in East St. Louis, Illinois. McShan is the
second of three men charged in the indictment to plead guilty. Lagardo Wright, 20,
also of Fairview Heights, pled guilty to the same offenses on September 21, 2021.
According to court documents, Wright and McShan used other people’s bank accounts to deposit
counterfeit checks at multiple banks. They obtained access to those accounts by
recruiting individuals on social media and elsewhere, promising money in exchange for personal
banking information, including online usernames, passwords, and PIN numbers. Whenever they
found someone willing to participate, they checked the person’s account balances and withdrawal
limits, and deposited counterfeit checks into the person’s account at ATMs or through mobile
deposits. Then they quickly withdrew funds before the bank could determine the checks were
counterfeit and closed the account for fraud.
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud and brank fraud carry maximum sentences of thirty years in prison,
fines of up to $1,000,000, and restitution.
Wright’s sentencing is scheduled for January 12, 2022. McShan will be sentenced on March 9, 2022.
The third defendant, Cedric Sheard, Jr., 21, of Belleville, Illinois, is scheduled to plead guilty
on November 16, 2021.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke J. Weissler.
