CLEVELAND — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Ohio, Northern), published as received.
CLEVELAND – A Cleveland woman has been sentenced to 32 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to transport and sell stolen U.S. Treasury bonds across state lines, forging treasury bonds, and using a false social security number. According to court documents, Toni Laverne Smith, 71, had in her possession, U.S. Treasury bonds that were believed to have been stolen from the residence of an elderly female in 2011.
The investigation discovered that from about September 2011 to April 2012, Smith and a co-conspirator transported U.S. Treasury bonds, which they knew were stolen, across state lines. They used fake identification cards with the name of the victim to negotiate the sale of more than 350 forged Series E and EE, U.S. Treasury bonds with a face value of $268,500. The sale netted approximately $299,364 in proceeds which included interest on mature bonds. Additionally, they used the social security number of the victim to open bank accounts at several financial institutions as far away as Michigan and Illinois. Smith had eluded capture for more than a decade. Federal authorities apprehended Smith June 3, 2024, on unrelated charges.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa Healy for the Northern District of Ohio.
To report stolen treasury bonds, visit https://www.treasurydirect.gov/savings-bonds/manage-bonds/lost-stolen-destroyed-ee-or-i-bonds/ or call 844-284-2676.
