Jeannette Man Charged With Mail Theft, Bank Fraud
PITTSBURGH, Pa. ‑ A Jeannette, Pennsylvania, resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of theft of mail and bank fraud, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
The three‑count indictment, returned on Aug. 11, named John Jacob Lewis, Jr., 35, of Jeannette, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment, Lewis unlawfully possessed personal checks from letters placed in residential mail boxes, which he knew to be stolen , and some of which he used to defraud a bank.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 40 years in prison, a fine of $1,500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Agents of the United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
