A May Landing man is accused of stealing nearly 2,000 checks totaling more than $9.7 million.
Isaiah Edwards-Stewart, 31, was arrested Thursday for his part in the large-scale money laundering operation, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said.
The investigation that started last year found Edwards-Stewart was involved in depositing stolen checks into different bank accounts belonging to other individuals and then transferring the money into his personal accounts at various financial institutions, according to the charges.
Edwards-Stewart was found with more than 1,988 stolen checks, amounting to an estimated total of $9,763,588.09. He also allegedly had more than 1,000 items of personal identifying information for other individuals and numerous government documents belonging to other individuals, as well as the software and templates to create fraudulent checks.
He faces 17 counts, including first-degree money laundering, second-degree trafficking in personal identifying information, second-degree theft, second-degree identity theft, second-degree computer crimes, third-degree forgery, third-degree possession of false government documents and fourth-degree criminal simulation.
This case was investigated by the New Jersey State Police, with the cooperation and assistance of the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Edwards-Stewart was arrested on similar charges in 2021 out of Egg Harbor Township, court records show.
It is not clear where that case stands.
Edwards-Stewart is in the Atlantic County Justice Facility pending a detention hearing.
