United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

GRAND JURY INDICTS TEN AMARILLO RESIDENTS IN
STOLEN MAIL / IDENTITY THEFT CONSPIRACY

AMARILLO, Tx. - A federal grand jury in Amarillo, Texas, returned a 40-count indictment today charging ten Amarillo area residents with conspiracy to possess stolen mail and various other charges related to a stolen mail/identity theft scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas.

The below defendants are named in the indictment:

• Charles Merle Long, a/k/a Chad Long, 21
• Kara Liesl Kolb, 34
• Andrew Leo Salazar, a/k/a Abel Salazar, 39
• Tonya Denise Robinson, 45
• Kenneth Christopher Leard, 27
• Pandora Elaine Box, 40
• Jeremy Scott Mercer, 30
• Joanna Elise Brown, 21
• Ashley Nichole Prewitt, 18
• Ezequiel Manuel Rodriguez, 27

The indictment alleges that as part of the conspiracy the defendants stole mail and retrieved abandoned mail from trash receptacles. They used the personal identifying information on the individuals owning the stolen or abandoned mail they had obtained and opened lines of credit, activated discarded convenience checks and credit offers, placed orders for items by charging the purchases to the stolen credit cards, purchased items including cellular telephones and gift cards and otherwise assumed the identity of the individuals who had their personal information stolen.

Defendant Long and Kalb are also each charged with 19 counts of possession of stolen mail, three counts of fraud in connection with access devices and three counts of aggravated identity theft.

 Defendant Salazar is also charged with one count of possession of stolen mail matter, three counts of fraud in connection with access devices and two counts of aggravated identity theft. Defendant Robinson is also charged with one count of possession of stolen mail matter, three counts of fraud in connection with access devices and three counts of identity theft. Defendants Leard and Box are also charged with two counts of possession of stolen mail matter and one count of fraud in connection with access devices. Defendants Mercer and Brown are also charged with one count of possession of stolen mail and one count of fraud in connection with an access device. Defendants Prewitt and Rodriguez are also charged with one count of fraud in connection with an access device.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. Each conspiracy and possession of stolen mail count carries a maximum statutory sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Count 35 (fraud in connection with an access device) carries a maximum statutory sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Counts 36 and 37 (fraud in connection with an access device) carries a maximum statutory sentence of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Each count of aggravated identity theft carries a maximum statutory sentence of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Warrants have been issued for all defendants, with the exception of Tonya Denise Robinson. She will be issued a summons to appear. Defendants Long, Kolb, Salazar, Leard, Box, and Brown are in state/local custody.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Amarillo Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy L. Drake of the Amarillo, Texas, U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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