Seventh defendant pleads guilty in check cashing fraud ring

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Federal prosecutors say a woman has pleaded guilty in a fraudulent check cashing scheme that was operated out of a Montgomery Wal-Mart.

Authorities said in an emailed statement that 44-year-old Audrey Valisha Porterfield pleaded guilty Monday to conspiring to steal federal funds.

Prosecutors say Porterfield worked as a cashier at the store and conspired with two of her co-workers to cash fraudulent and stolen U.S. Treasury checks that had been brought in by four accomplices.

Authorities say the fraud resulted in a total loss of roughly $290,000 to the victims.

Prosecutors say six of Porterfield’s co-defendants have already pleaded guilty to the same charge. All seven members of the check cashing fraud ring are scheduled for sentencing on July 20 and face up to five years in prison.