Woodbury Target Hit by Alleged Fraudsters

Woodbury’s —along with more than 10 others in the metro area—fell victim to a check fraud scheme that cost them more than $12,000 total, according to a press release from the Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Three people were indicted in federal court last week in connection with the scheme, according to the release. 

Ci’Preaunni Ja’Von Stewart, 21, and Ryan Lamarr Chambers were charged with 19 counts of bank fraud in one indictment. Jamee Leah Spillman, 38, was charged with 15 counts of bank fraud in a separate indictment.

Authorities say that from July through October 2011, the trio passed counterfeit checks at stores, primarily Target, and allegedly claimed the checks were traveler’s checks, causing their counterfeit nature to go undetected for several days.

The Target stores impacted include those in Buffalo, Burnsville, Cottage Grove, Edina, Medina, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Oakdale, St. Cloud, Vadnais Heights and Woodbury. The purchases made by the three defendants totaled more than $12,375.

If convicted, each faces a potential maximum penalty of 30 years in prison on each count, according to the release.

The Secret Service and the Minneapolis Police Department investigated the case. They are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Steinkamp.