Jefferson County Man Sentenced to 27 Months for Bank Fraud Involving Altered Treasury Check
Byron Demetrius Franklin, 61, of Beaumont, was sentenced September 3, 2026, to 27 months in federal prison for bank fraud, announced September 4, 2026.
3 reports on this incident · first at Sep 4, 2026, 3:52 p.m. ET
Earlier reports
Sep 6, 2026, 5:21 p.m. ET
Jefferson County Man Sentenced to 27 Months for Bank Fraud
A Beaumont man has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for bank fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs on September 4, 2026. Byron Demetrius Franklin, 61, pleaded guilty and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on September 3, 2026, in the Eastern District of Texas.
According to court information, in January 2025, Franklin attempted to deposit a U.S. Treasury check for $1,197,149.98 at a Walmart ATM in Houston into a USAA federal banking account. He called USAA and complained the ATM misread the amount, depositing only $119,714.99. USAA credited the difference of $1,077,434.99 while verifying the check, but gave Franklin access to the $119,714.99. Between January 18 and January 20, 2025, Franklin withdrew $5,507.90 from ATMs in Beaumont before USAA closed the account after finding the check was altered.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Automobile Association, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Grove.
Sep 4, 2026, 3:52 p.m. ETFirst report
Beaumont Man Sentenced for Bank Fraud Involving Altered Treasury Check
A Beaumont man has been sentenced to federal prison for a bank fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs on September 4, 2026. Byron Demetrius Franklin, 61, pleaded guilty to bank fraud and was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on September 3, 2026.
According to information presented in court, in January 2025, Franklin attempted to deposit a U.S. Treasury check in the amount of $1,197,149.98 at a Walmart ATM in Houston to a USAA federal banking account. Franklin called USAA and spoke with a bank financial investigator to complain that the ATM misread the check amount and only deposited $119,714.99. USAA credited Franklin's account the difference of $1,077,434.99 for the reported error, but gave Franklin access to the $119,714.99 while they verified the check's authenticity.
Between January 18 and January 20, 2025, Franklin withdrew a total of $5,507.90 from the account via JP Morgan Chase and 5Point Credit Union ATMs in Beaumont before USAA closed the account because the check was found to have been altered. The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and USAA and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Grove.
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First published.
- Version 14 Sept 2026, 19:52current
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- Version 16 Sept 2026, 21:21current
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