{"id":61207,"date":"2026-07-16T13:29:46","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T20:29:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=61207"},"modified":"2026-07-16T13:29:46","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T20:29:46","slug":"l-a-crips-member-sentenced-to-9-years-in-federal-prison-in-2-8-million-bank-fraud-scheme-using-instagram","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=61207","title":{"rendered":"L.A. Crips Member Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison in $2.8 Million Bank Fraud Scheme Using Instagram"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"LOS ANGELES<\/strong> \u2014 A member of a South Los Angeles-based Crips<\/strong> street gang was sentenced Thursday to nine years in federal prison<\/strong> for participating in a $2.8 million bank fraud conspiracy, <\/strong>officials announced Thursday.<\/span><\/p>\n

The bank fraud relied on stolen mail, counterfeit checks, and Instagram<\/strong> to recruit victims willing to provide access to their bank accounts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Quick Facts<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Defendant:<\/strong> Chase Matthew Griffin, 26, also known as “Trey”<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Residence:<\/strong> Atlanta; also lived in Ontario and South Los Angeles<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Sentence:<\/strong> 108 months (9 years) in federal prison<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Restitution:<\/strong> $307,386<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Charge:<\/strong> Conspiracy to commit bank fraud<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Loss amount:<\/strong> Approximately $2.8 million<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Scheme operated:<\/strong> 2022 through September 2025<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Investigating agency:<\/strong> U.S. Postal Inspection Service<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    According to court documents, Chase Matthew Griffin<\/strong> pleaded guilty on March 5<\/strong> to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud<\/strong>. He has remained in federal custody since September 2025<\/strong>. <\/span><\/p>\n

    U.S. District Judge Josephine L. Staton<\/strong> imposed the sentence and ordered Griffin to pay $307,386<\/strong> in restitution.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"\"Federal prosecutors said Griffin participated in a scheme that stole checks from the U.S. mail, altered the original payee information or created counterfeit versions, then deposited the fraudulent checks into bank accounts controlled by recruited accomplices.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Authorities said Griffin used Instagram<\/strong> to advertise for bank account holders willing to provide access to their accounts. His social media posts frequently showed him holding large stacks of cash while soliciting participants.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Once recruits agreed, Griffin and his co-conspirators deposited fraudulent checks\u2014often worth tens of thousands of dollars<\/strong>\u2014into those accounts and withdrew the money before financial institutions could detect the fraud.<\/span><\/p>\n

    One example cited by prosecutors involved a North Hollywood business<\/strong> that mailed three checks totaling approximately $84,490<\/strong> through a U.S. Postal Service collection box in Tarzana<\/strong> in December 2023. <\/span><\/p>\n

    The checks were stolen, altered, and deposited into JPMorgan Chase<\/strong> accounts belonging to individuals other than the intended recipients.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Investigators later found that one of the accounts had previously received another fraudulent deposit of approximately $22,487<\/strong> at an ATM in Upland<\/strong>. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Authorities determined that multiple counterfeit checks duplicated the originals’ dates, check numbers, and amounts while changing only the listed payees.<\/span><\/p>\n

    According to prosecutors, the stolen proceeds were rapidly spent through ATM withdrawals, Zelle transfers, Cash App payments, airline ticket purchases, and transactions at a San Bernardino County casino<\/strong> before investigators traced the activity to Griffin.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The U.S. Postal Inspection Service<\/strong> investigated the case.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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    LOS ANGELES \u2014 A member of a South Los Angeles-based Crips street gang was sentenced Thursday to nine years in federal prison for participating in a $2.8 million bank fraud conspiracy, officials…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7271,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-61207","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nL.A. 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