Woman Convicted in Fake Money Order Scheme

Edna Gorham Bey of Temple Hills called herself the Sultana of the United States Moorish-American Nation. She also answered to "Queen" and "Doctor," though she doesn't have a medical degree or a PhD.

Yesterday, a federal jury in Greenbelt bestowed a less lofty designation on Gorham Bey: felon.

After a two-week trial, the jury deliberated less than three hours before convicting Gorham Bey, 58, of bank fraud, possession of false identification documents and other charges -- 15 counts in all -- in a case that involved creating and cashing fake money orders.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart Berman asked U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus to have Gorham Bey, who had been out on bond, taken into custody immediately because he feared she could flee before sentencing.

Titus did so, noting the "mountain of evidence" that Gorham Bey had engaged in deception and used multiple names and identities.

That prompted an outburst from the defendant, clad in a gold-color headdress, flowing black tunic, black slacks and dark sunglasses.

"There's no place to run, no place to hide for a woman with health challenges!" Gorham Bey proclaimed, an apparent reference to her circulatory problems.

As she was led out by bailiffs, Gorham Bey turned to relatives in the courtroom and cried out, "Y'all be strong. This too shall pass. God is the final judge."

Gorham Bey and her companion of more than 20 years, David Rosser-El, 60, led the United States Moorish-American Nation, a group described on its Web site as a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching that many African Americans are descended from Moors who migrated to Spain.

They also led a scheme in which they used computers, scanners and other equipment to create counterfeit money orders, according to evidence presented by federal prosecutors during the trial.

They and their associates would then cash or deposit the fake money orders at banks, post offices and businesses in Prince George's County, the District and Southern Maryland, according to court records and testimony.

Gorham Bey used more than a half-dozen false identities and drove to businesses, banks and post offices far from her home to cash money orders to avoid detection, Assistant U.S. Attorney James Crowell said in his closing argument yesterday.