Fraud Scheme Sentencing Targets Woman Who Helped Steal Hundreds Of Checks Worth Millions

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — A group of Maryland residents have been sentenced in connection to the theft of checks from the mail that were then altered and fraudulently deposited into their bank accounts. The scheme targeted 900 individuals and more than 700 stolen checks valued at in excess of $5 million.

The five Prince George's County residents were charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, bank fraud and related charges. One of the individuals charged works for the U.S. Postal Service.

Charged in the indictment are:

• Tianna Cosby, a/k/a “Mendoza,” 23, Upper Marlboro
• Marche Sisco, 26, Suitland
• Tommi Cosby, 21, District Heights
• Biniah Carter, 24, Upper Marlboro
• Zion Oluwademilade Adeduwon, 22, Bowie

Tianna Cosby and Biniah Carter were arrested Jan. 19. Law enforcement has not yet located Marche Sisco, Tommi Cosby and Zion Oluwademilade Adeduwon. According to the 18-count indictment, Tianna Cosby and Sisco stole personal and business checks from the mail. Sisco works as a USPS mail handler assistant at the Washington Network Distribution Center, which is where she stole the checks. Additional checks were taken from USPS collection boxes.

The indictment also alleges that Tianna Cosby, Tommi Cosby, Carter and Adeduwon recruited “account mules” – individuals whose bank accounts are used to deposit illegally acquired checks and proceeds of the scheme. The conspirators then collected and shared account mule information, which included banking and identity information. The defendants allegedly also used and transferred the means of identification of at least five identity theft victims.

As detailed in the indictment, the conspirators altered the stolen checks to reflect payment to account mules, deposited the fraudulent checks into the bank accounts belonging to the account mules, then engaged in financial transactions, including ATM withdrawals and account transfers, to access the money.

In October 2024, Cosby pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. On Jan. 19, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant of Cosby’s home in Woodbridge. They recovered 27 designer handbags and 14 pieces of jewelry, including rings, necklaces, bracelets, brooches and a wristwatch. The jewelry and the designer handbags were purchased with proceeds from the fraud scheme, officials said.

The jewelry and designer handbags were professionally appraised and had a combined fair-market value of approximately $137,555, consisting of approximately $113,065 in designer handbags and approximately $24,490 in jewelry, officials said.

Law enforcement also found a BMW i8 that Cosby had purchased for $114,296.02. Inside the BMW i8, law enforcement recovered a Louis Vuitton bag containing 151 checks stolen from the mail, totaling approximately $610,788.08. The checks belonged to victims from across the country.

Cosby has been sentenced to 114 months in federal prison for her role.