Tennessee Highway Patrols Identity Crimes Unit Bust a Major Criminal Check Cashing Ring in the Shelby County Area

MEMPHIS – December 10, 2013, Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) Identity Crimes Investigator William Simpson initiated an investigation into a fraudulent check cashing scam which occurred throughout the Shelby County area. During the investigation, investigators identified numerous individuals who cashed fraudulent checks, all of which used a routing number for the Tennessee Department of Treasury.

The common theme determined during the investigation was that several of the subjects cashing the checks had been recruited by the same individual. The recruited subjects would then be taken to an area Wal-Mart where they would complete their fraudulent check cashing transaction.  After cashing the check the individuals would return to the parking lot where the check-casher was allowed to keep a portion of the money and the remaining balance would be given to the recruiter.  Throughout the investigation it was determined twenty two of the check-cashers had been recruited by a person they referred to as “E”; furthermore, a majority of the check-cashers identified a white Chevrolet Impala driven by the person known as “E”.  With the assistance of a check-casher, THP Identity Crimes Investigators were able to identify “E” as Eric Sims. 

On November 18, 2014, Investigators completed the investigation and conducted a mass operation known as Operation Christmas Check.  Operation Christmas Check resulted in 99 arrest warrants being issued and served throughout Shelby County for the check-cashers.   On November 10, 2015 the Sims case was presented to the Shelby County Grand Jury who returned a True Bill and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.  On 11/30/2015 warrants were served by Investigators with the THP Identity Crimes unit and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. 

On August 1, 2016 Eric Sims entered a guilty plea to Identity Theft Trafficking and sentenced to 4 years in Tennessee Department of Corrections. 

“Those who think this is a harmless crime are sadly mistaken,” said Commissioner Bill Gibbons of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.  We all pay the price for fraud. 

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s (www.TN.Gov/safety) mission is to serve, secure, and protect the people of Tennessee.

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