Third Cedar Rapids man convicted in fraud scheme involving stolen checks

CEDAR RAPIDS - The third Cedar Rapids man charged in a fraud scheme pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to counterfeiting money and identity theft.

Joshua Chalk, 31, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to manufacturing counterfeit currency and aggravated identity theft. During his plea hearing, Chalk admitted he manufactured a $100 bill in March 2017. He was making counterfeit money to buy pizza and other items in the Cedar Rapids area. Chalk provided counterfeit bills to his girlfriend, who would order the pizzas, court records show. 

Chalk also admitted he participated in a bank fraud scheme with Kevin Kappmeyer and Darrell Turner to remove checks drawn on accounts of various banks from stolen mail. They would alter the payee names on the checks and attempt to cash those checks. Chalk said he attempted to cash an altered check on Dec. 26, 2016, at a local check cashing company.

Turner, 50, was convicted of possession of stolen mail matter and aggravated identity theft. At his plea hearing in April, Turner admitted he possessed a check that had been in mail stolen from a Cedar Rapids mailbox. Turner tried to cash the check on Jan. 6 at a local bank.

Kappmeyer, 50, was convicted in June of possession of stolen mail matter and aggravated identity theft. At his plea hearing, Kappmeyer said he possessed a check that had been in stolen mail addressed to a company in Marion. Kappmeyer cashed the check on Jan. 4.

Craig Goldberg, inspector in charge of the Denver Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which includes Iowa, said in a statement Monday these convictions 'reflect the successful teamwork between the Postal Inspection Service and its local law enforcement partners” who worked together to bring justice to the victims in these cases.

All three men remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been set. Chalk faces up to 22 years in federal prison, a $500,000 fine and four years of supervised release following his prison term. Turner and Kappmeyer face up to seven years in prison, a $500,000 fine and four years of supervised release.

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