Cleveland, Ohio – A 71-year-old Cleveland resident, Toni Laverne Smith, was sentenced to 32 months in federal prison last week after pleading guilty to a scheme involving stolen U.S. Treasury bonds. Her charges included conspiracy to transport and sell stolen bonds across state lines, forging Treasury bonds, and using a false social security number.
Decade-Long Scheme Unveiled
Court records revealed that the stolen Treasury bonds were traced back to the home of an elderly woman, from where they were believed to have been taken in 2011. Between September 2011 and April 2012, Smith and a co-conspirator transported the stolen bonds across state lines, fully aware of their origins. The two created fake identification cards bearing the victim’s name to facilitate their fraudulent activities.
In total, more than 350 forged Series E and EE Treasury bonds, with a face value of $268,500, were sold. Including interest from matured bonds, the operation brought in $299,364. Additionally, Smith and her co-conspirator used the victim’s social security number to open accounts at banks in Michigan, Illinois, and other states, furthering their criminal enterprise.
Justice After Years on the Run
Smith managed to evade capture for over a decade before federal authorities apprehended her on June 3, 2024, on unrelated charges. Her sentencing highlights the persistence of law enforcement in pursuing long-standing cases…