Alabama Woman Sentenced for Bank Fraud

Jackson, Miss.  – A Pelham, Alabama woman was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $621,411.51 for bank fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

According to court documents, Tanya Shelby, 42, owned a car dealership named Tanya Shelby Auto Sales d/b/a Payless Car Sales in Pearl, Mississippi. Shelby negotiated and executed checks drawn on accounts she opened at Mississippi National Federal Credit Union and Citizens National Bank knowing that the accounts had insufficient funds. To inflate the accounts, she deposited checks drawn on other accounts holding insufficient funds.

Additionally, Shelby opened and used lines of credit at NextGear Capital and Citizens National Bank to secure credit for the same three vehicles at each financial institution, knowing that payments would not be made on any of the lines of credit.

Shelby pled guilty on April 7, 2021, to bank fraud. 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.

Criminal Chief Erin Chalk prosecuted the case.