A Kansas City, Missouri woman has pleaded guilty to attempted bank fraud for her role in depositing stolen checks into her own bank account while employed by the United States Postal Service.
According to federal prosecutors, Shawneasha L. Watson, 30, allowed another individual to use her debit card and PIN to deposit altered checks into her credit union account in June 2023. The checks had been changed to list Watson as the payee and were endorsed with a signature bearing her name. The credit union identified the deposits as fraudulent and froze the account before any funds could be withdrawn or transferred.
Victims reported that they had placed these checks in United States Postal Service blue collection boxes for mailing. The stolen checks were originally intended for various payments, including medical expenses and a monthly mortgage.
Investigators also found that Watson obtained a Pandemic Paycheck Protection loan of $20,832.50 under false pretenses in 2021. She claimed on the application that she was running a men’s clothing business and needed the money for payroll expenses but later admitted this was untrue and used the funds for personal expenses. The Small Business Administration ultimately forgave the loan.
“Under federal statutes, Watson is subject to a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors,” according to prosecutors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda K. Hanson is prosecuting this case following an investigation by the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri manages federal prosecutions across 66 counties from Iowa to Arkansas borders and maintains offices in Kansas City, Jefferson City, and Springfield. It works with multiple law enforcement partners at different levels of government and addresses crimes such as financial fraud, violent crime, and drug trafficking.
