United States Attorney
Northern District of Texas

1100 Commerce St., 3rd Fl.
Dallas, Texas 75242-1699

Telephone (214) 659-8600
Fax (214) 767-0978

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER ADMIT ROLE IN
STOLEN MAIL / BANK FRAUD SCHEME

Two local women pled guilty today in federal court in Dallas to their role in a stolen mail and bank fraud scheme, announced United States Attorney Richard B. Roper. Dallas residents, Laquietta Bell, age 38, and her daughter, Lashazzel E. Bell, age 21, each pled guilty before the Honorable A. Joe Fish, United States Chief District Judge. Laquietta Bell pled guilty to one count of possession of stolen mail contents and Lashazzel Bell pled guilty to one count of bank fraud. Laquietta Bell faces a maximum statutory sentence of five years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and restitution; Lashazzel E. Bell faces a maximum statutory sentence of 30 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and restitution. Laquietta Bell is presently in custody on state charges, and Lashazzel E. Bell is on bond following her arrest on May 22, 2006. They are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Fish on October 3, 2006.

During September and October 2004, Lashazzel E. Bell devised a scheme to defraud Bank of America by using accounts she opened at Bank of America to deposit a stolen and forged check and then using the funds for her own benefit. Lashazzel E. Bell obtained the stolen check from another Dallas woman, Latresha Shantae Brantley, who had worked as a contract custodian at the Ferris Main Post Office in Ferris, Texas. In July 2004, Brantley stole boxes of blank checks from post office boxes at the Ferris Post Office and gave some of the blank stolen checks to Lashazzel E. Bell and Laquietta Bell. In July and August 2004, Brantley drove Laquietta Bell to several stores where Laqiuetta Bell used stolen checks to pay for merchandise. In fact, on several occasions Laquietta Bell and Lashazzel E. Bell used stolen checks that Brantley had given them to pay for merchandise at various retail stores. Brantley pled guilty in federal court in September 2005 to theft of stolen mail matter and was sentenced in December 2005 to three years probation and ordered to pay restitution.

United States Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney David L. Jarvis is the prosecuting attorney.

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