40th plea in $2 million SC check fraud case

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — A Spartanburg woman is the last defendant to plead guilty in a scheme to steal nearly $2 million though check fraud.

U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles says 42-year-old Rose M. Church pleaded guilty Tuesday to the criminal use of the mail to further a scheme to defraud.

Prosecutors say Church is the 40th person to enter a plea as part of the conspiracy operated by Hope Mitchell, who is now serving nearly five years in prison.

Authorities say the group recruited people to get fake IDs and open checking accounts. The recruits were taken shopping where checks were used to buy expensive items. Recruits were told to report their checkbooks stolen. The items were resold and the profits shared.

Church faces up to 20 years when she is sentenced later.