N.J. man pleads guilty in $2 million check fraud

A Voorhees man with close to 20 convictions, many of them related to check fraud, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to operating a multimillion-dollar stolen-check ring with victims ranging from major corporations to an elderly Bucks County resident.

Cornell Goodman, 39, faces a mandatory two years in prison on top of 110 to 137 months as recommended by federal sentencing guidelines.

With a criminal record dating to 1987, Goodman most recently had been sentenced in 1996 to 71 months in prison followed by five years' supervised release. That probation was ongoing when he was arrested in March 2007 in connection with his most recent scam, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek A. Cohen.

"He had served his sentence, got back out, and did it again," Cohen said. "He's a lifelong criminal. This is what he does."

This time, Goodman's arrest, at his home, was peaceful - unlike his apprehension in 1994. Then, Goodman was behind the wheel of a black Acura Legend and, as a U.S. Secret Service agent approached him with gun drawn to tell him he was under arrest for check counterfeiting, Goodman hit the gas. He struck the agent, James Henry, while Henry and another officer fired at the car. Goodman was apprehended days later.

His guilty plea yesterday was to charges of conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, mail fraud, and bank fraud in connection with a scheme that involved stealing checks, creating fake companies, and opening at least a dozen bank accounts using fraudulent identification to obtain money and property totaling more than $2.2 million.

His sentencing is scheduled for April 24 before U.S. District Judge Gene E.K. Pratter. The mandatory two years' imprisonment he faces is because of the charge of aggravated identity theft, which involves using a false identity as part of another fraud.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, in one scheme, Goodman stole more than $1 million from Philadelphia-based Aramark by paying a former employee of the food-services company to submit false invoices and/or computer entries on behalf of fake companies. In another scam, authorities said, Goodman stole more than $600,000 from Teva Pharmaceuticals by obtaining a check made out by the Horsham-based company to a supplier and opening a bank account using fraudulent documents to cash the check.

In the case of the elderly Warminster resident, Goodman opened bank accounts in the man's name in order to cash the proceeds of a $250,000 "loan" fraudulently obtained from the victim's insurance policy. To open those accounts, Goodman and others used a fraudulent driver's license bearing the victim's name. Cohen would not reveal the age of the victim.

He said Goodman had at least five accomplices, all of whom have been prosecuted. One of them, Shawn Capps, 40, of Philadelphia, was sentenced in November to 94 months in prison by U.S. District Judge James K. Gardner. The others are awaiting sentencing.

The investigation into other possible victims and accomplices continues.

As part of his guilty plea, Goodman agreed to forfeit $2,257,559.

Cohen said that "a number of his crimes involved getting home-improvement materials." He said Goodman had no legitimate employment.

"He victimized businesses and individuals alike," Cohen said, "and basically earned his livelihood by committing these crimes."