Atlanta, Georgia – A man from the Atlanta area has been sentenced to federal prison and ordered to repay over a quarter-million dollars for defrauding a woman in Columbia County. Marqualdis Antwon Logan, also known as Alphonso Baugh, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, has been convicted of multiple counts of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Facing 51 months in prison, Logan was apprehended in 2022 while in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The scheme came to light in September 2020 when a woman in Columbia County noticed suspicious activity in her money market account and promptly reported it to her bank and local law enforcement. Subsequent investigations conducted by the FBI revealed the creation of a fraudulent online profile, allowing unauthorized access to the victim’s account. Logan and his associates then wrote online checks to transfer funds into their own controlled bank accounts.
The FBI determined that Logan had successfully cashed over half a million dollars’ worth of fraudulent checks, totaling $497,136. While some of the funds were recovered, Logan has been ordered to repay the remaining amount, which stands at $272,097. It was revealed that Logan utilized the stolen funds for personal purchases and travel.
In addition to this case, Logan admitted to his involvement in another scheme. He withdrew more than $100,000 from a different victim by using information stolen from the victim’s deceased husband. Furthermore, Logan fraudulently obtained over $20,000 from a COVID-19 small business relief loan.
U.S. Attorney Steinberg emphasized the impact of Logan’s actions on innocent individuals, stating, “Hard-working individuals sacrifice to save money for their future needs, including retirement.” Brian Ozden, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, echoed this sentiment, highlighting that fraudulent scams like these can have devastating effects on individuals and their livelihoods.
As part of his plea agreement, Logan has been sentenced to prison and must repay the stolen funds. This case serves as a reminder of the FBI’s dedication to holding accountable those who would exploit hard-working individuals rather than putting in the necessary work themselves.
