Investigators said more than 1,200 stolen checks worth over $2 million were uncovered during one of Horry County’s largest financial crime cases
CONWAY, S.C. — A Florida man connected to a massive stolen check operation involving more than $2 million in stolen financial instruments has been sentenced to prison after admitting his role in the scheme.
Willie Bernard Perry, 25, of Fort Lauderdale, pleaded guilty Monday to receiving stolen goods valued at $10,000 or more, conspiracy, and three counts of third or subsequent offense of receiving stolen goods, according to the Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
The case stems from an investigation that uncovered more than 1,200 stolen checks with a combined value exceeding $2 million in Myrtle Beach during July 2025.
Circuit Court Judge Alex Hyman sentenced Perry to seven years in prison on each receiving stolen goods conviction and five years in prison for conspiracy. The sentences will run concurrently.
Prosecutors said Perry faced up to 10 years in prison on the receiving stolen goods charges and received the maximum sentence available for the conspiracy conviction.
As part of the plea agreement, 105 warrants connected to Perry were dismissed.
Authorities said the investigation began after Myrtle Beach Police Department officers encountered individuals outside a Myrtle Beach motel. During the ensuing investigation, officers discovered the stolen checks.
Prosecutors described the case as one of the largest stolen check investigations ever handled in Horry County.
Charges remain pending against Perry’s co-defendant, Devonte Owen Dawkins.
Senior Assistant Solicitor George DeBusk, who prosecuted the case, said Perry accepted responsibility for his role in the operation by entering the guilty plea.
The investigation remains active as the case against the co-defendant moves forward.
Key Points
- A Florida man was sentenced to prison in connection with a stolen check scheme involving more than $2 million.
- Investigators recovered more than 1,200 stolen checks in Myrtle Beach.
- Prosecutors described the case as one of the largest stolen check investigations in Horry County history.
