Aurora man charged in $700,000 mail theft and check fraud scheme

CLEVELAND, Ohio — An Aurora man was charged Wednesday in connection with a $700,000 check-forging scheme in which he used checks stolen from the U.S. mail.

Darmani Hawkins, 20, recruited mail carriers and others via social media to steal checks, forge them and cash the fake ones at real banks, according to court records

Hawkins on Wednesday pleaded not guilty in federal court in Cleveland to charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud and mail theft. U.S. District Judge Donald Nugent ordered Hawkins remain in federal custody.