ATLANTA — A metro Atlanta man has been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme involving checks stolen from the mail.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Georgia says Shamarri Brooks, 34, of Stone Mountain, used his music and social media presence to recruit people with existing bank accounts to help deposit stolen checks.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan Kitchens says thousands of checks were involved, with a combined value of about $6.5 million.
Brooks also promoted and sold tutorials called the “Sauce Book,” which officials say taught people how to commit various forms of financial fraud.
According to U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan and information presented in court, the scheme operated from at least January 2022 through November 2025. Brooks and others allegedly used existing bank accounts to deposit altered checks stolen from the mail, investigators said.
Court records say Brooks changed the stolen checks to list cooperating accountholders as the intended recipients or payees. He is then accused of depositing the altered checks at ATMs throughout the Atlanta area.
Officials say Brooks would often wear balaclava-style masks while making the deposits and the masks featured a logo reading “No Free Sauce.”
Brooks also sold images of stolen checks, which were referred to as “slips,” as part of what prosecutors described as his fraud business.
Although Brooks and his associates stole checks with a combined face value of $6,574,288, authorities recovered many of the checks from Brooks’ home. Officials say there is no evidence Brooks successfully negotiated the remaining checks.
FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Marlo Graham says the case should serve as a warning to people who try to profit from financial crimes.
“For those who think they can take the easy road to financial gains by stealing money people have worked hard for, the FBI will hold you accountable for the pain and losses you cause,” Graham said.
Graham said Brooks built a criminal enterprise around stealing checks, exploiting bank accounts and teaching others how to commit fraud.
“His actions put millions of dollars at risk and victimized individuals and financial institutions across our community,” Graham said.
Brooks was sentenced to six years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release, officials said.