FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
SEPTEMBER 28, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, D.C. MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO
SCHEME TO STEAL OVER $200,000
Stole Identity Information and Blank Checks from Home Mailboxes
Baltimore, Maryland - Melvin T. Jones, age 49, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft arising out of a scheme to cash checks stolen from the mail, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.
According to the plea agreement, Jones stole blank checks and identity information from the mailboxes of eight individuals. He used the information to forge checks which he cashed or deposited into his own bank accounts. He also purchased merchandise at a retail store.
To further his scheme, Jones acquired a driver’s license in the name of one of the victims whose bank accounts he accessed. On February 7, 2007, Jones presented to a bank teller a forged customer receipt of electronic funds for $3,000 drawn on the victim’s bank account, along with a driver’s license bearing his picture, but the victim’s name. Jones obtained $3,000 from the teller.
As a result of this scheme, Jones defrauded seven banks of $231,320.89.
Jones faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release and a $1 million fine for bank; and a mandatory sentence of two years for aggravated identity theft, consecutive to the sentence imposed for the bank fraud. U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz has scheduled sentencing for November 13, 2007 at 9:00 a.m.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the U.S. Postal Service for its investigative work. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen M. Schenning, who is prosecuting the case.