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AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885
May 11, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LETTER CARRIER INDICTED IN SCHEME TO STEAL BOXES OF PERSONAL CHECKS FROM THE MAIL
BALTIMORE, Maryland - A federal grand jury indicted George E. Mozee, age 46, of Bowie, yesterday for bank fraud arising from his theft of personal checks from the mail, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein announced.
As alleged in the 11-count indictment unsealed today upon his arrest, Mozee was employed as a letter carrier with the U.S. Postal Service. From July 2004 to August 2005, Mozee stole boxes of personal checks from the mail in the Lamond Riggs Station post office in Washington, D.C. Mozee gave the boxes of stolen checks to Ervin S. Waddy, age 54, of Mount Rainier. Waddy, together with Drain M. Short, age 44, of Washington, D.C., Terrence Ellis, age 29, and Angela Agnew, age 42, used the stolen checks and corresponding false identity documents they created to buy items for themselves and others at stores in Maryland. Waddy compensated Mozee and the others for their assistance in this scheme, either with cash or items purchased with the stolen checks.
The indictment alleges that through this scheme, Mozee caused the purchase of $9,064.25 worth of goods from Sam’s Club, Lowe’s, CompUSA and EXPO stores in Gaithersburg, Clinton, Laurel, Bethesda, Bowie and Annapolis.
Mozee faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. Mozee is scheduled to have his initial appearance in U.S. District Court at 3:30 p.m. today.
Waddy, Ellis and Agnew pled guilty to various charges of bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and/or use of another’s identity in relation to a felony, arising from this scheme. According to their plea agreements, Waddy agrees that the amount of loss attributable to him is between $30,000 and $70,000, and the loss amount attributable to both Ellis and Agnew exceeds $30,000. Waddy, Ellis and Agnew are scheduled to be sentenced on July 7, 2006, July 31, 2006, and July 13, 2006, respectively.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Chan Park, who is prosecuting the case.
This page last modified—May 11, 2006