Five Fresno residents have pleaded guilty in a Fresno bank fraud scheme involving more than $1 million. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the guilty pleas on September 21, 2026. The scheme allegedly operated for about one year between 2022 and 2023.

According to court documents, the group allegedly obtained stolen checks and deposited them into various bank accounts. One defendant was employed by the U.S. Postal Service during the scheme. Prosecutors said he stole checks from the mail and provided them to other participants.

The group then allegedly used different bank accounts to deposit the stolen checks. Some participants reportedly recruited other people to provide accounts for the deposits. They later attempted to withdraw money from the accounts after depositing the checks.

Investigators said the group used Facebook and Facebook Messenger to coordinate their activities. The stolen checks had a combined face value exceeding $1 million. However, banks prevented many transactions after identifying the stolen checks. As a result, the actual financial losses reached only a few hundred thousand dollars.

The investigation involved multiple federal and local law enforcement agencies. The FBI worked with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service during the investigation. The Postal Service Office of Inspector General also participated in the case. The Fresno Police Department assisted investigators as well.

The five defendants include Zorian Temple, Davonntae Barfield, Zion Brewer, Nyric Hinton, and Harry Cooper Neal. They entered guilty pleas on different dates in 2026. Their sentencing hearings are scheduled between November 2026 and January 2027.

Bank fraud can carry significant federal penalties under U.S. law. The offense can carry a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. It can also carry a fine of up to $1 million. The court will determine the final sentences for the defendants.