FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
MONDAY - January 30, 2012
COUPLE CHARGED IN IDENTITY THEFT SCHEME
RALEIGH - United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that two individuals involved in a large identity theft scheme were indicted on January 19, 2012. On January 27, 2012, they appeared in Court for their Initial Appearances.
A Federal Grand Jury returned a 14-Count Criminal Indictment charging MARK ANTHONY DAVIS, 41, and LAWANDA JOYCE RAGLAND, 33, both of Henderson, North Carolina. Each defendant was charged with one count of conspiring to commit offenses against the United States, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371; one count of access device fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029(a)(3); one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A; and 11 counts of possessing stolen mail, in violation of Title 18, Unite States Code, Section 1708.
According to the Indictment, from approximately May 14, 2008,to January 18, 2012, DAVIS and his girlfriend, RAGLAND, would steal mail, which included credit cards, credit card and bank account statements, drivers licenses, tax information, and correspondence, from residential mail boxes in order to obtain person information, such as names, addresses, social security numbers, dates of birth, and bank account and drivers license numbers. They then used this personal information to steal identities, obtaining unauthorized credit cards for their personal gain.
The maximum penalty for the conspiracy charge and each possession of stolen mail charge is up to five years imprisonment. The maximum penalty for the access device fraud is up to ten years imprisonment. Finally, the maximum penalty for the aggravated identity theft charge is a mandatory two-year imprisonment in additional to any other punishment imposed.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the United States Secret Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Henderson Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney J. Gaston B. Williams is prosecuting the case.
