Two Covington women and a New Orleans man were charged last week in a 15-count federal indictment for allegedly cashing nearly $16,000 in stolen checks, U.S. Attorney Jim Letten’s office said Monday.

Megan Merriman, 22, and Sara Smith, 23, both of Covington, and Alvin Welch, 41, New Orleans, are accused of cashing checks stolen from residential mailboxes and altered by a man listed only as E.M., according to the indictment. E.M. was not indicted, and as of press time his identity was not revealed because the investigation is ongoing, Kathy English, Letten’s spokeswoman, said.

Posing as home health care nurses, the women wore scrubs into the banks to cash checks, with phrases like “mother’s care staff” “home health care” or “care staff” written in the memo section, according to the indictment. Welch also cashed altered checks with “home repairs,” “paid in full” or “renovations completed” written as a memo. The defendants used 11 banks in all, including the Jefferson Parish School Board Employees Credit Union, all on the Southshore, to cash the checks between Aug. 30, 2007, and Oct. 11, 2007, according to the indictment.

All three defendants were approached at different times starting in September 2007 by E.M., according to the indictment. He approached the women first, then later Welch, asking all three if “they were interested in making money.”

All agreed, according to Letten’ office. Both Merriman and Smith soon thereafter were driven by E.W. to a Wal-Mart in Harvey, where the unidentified man gave them $100 to purchase medical scrubs, white T-shirts and socks, according to the indictment.

E.M. told the duo to “keep the change and remain in Wal-Mart until he called them on a cellular telephone approximately two hours later,” according to the indictment.

Later, E.M. drove the pair, now donning the scrubs, in a rental car to several banks to cash the checks he altered to the women’s names. Many times the checks were also altered to increase the amount paid, according to the indictment.

Merriman and Smith accepted cash and/or drugs for payment, the indictment alleges.

On Sept. 25, 2007, E.W. also approached Welch, asked him if he had identification and if he too wanted to make money. Welch also agreed, Letten alleges.

Later that day, E.W. drove Welch in a rental car to various banks and waited outside while Welch attempted to cash the checks.

During the four-month scheme, Merriman, also known as Megean Lerriman, cashed eight checks worth $7,963, Smith cashed three for $2,938, and Welch cashed three for $5,103.72, the indictment alleges.

If convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, Merriman, Smith and Welch each face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Fourteen other counts of bank fraud each carry up to 30 years in prison and a fine of not more than $1 million.

If convicted on all counts, the defendants face up to 425 years each in prison.