Modesto Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Conspiring To Commit Postal Crimes

FRESNO, Calif. —Michael Chase Stafford, 29, of Modesto, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill to two years and nine months in prison for conspiring to commit postal crimes, according to United States Attorney Benjamin Wagner.

According to court documents, Stafford conspired with others to steal mail from authorized U.S. mail receptacles and to possess stolen U.S. mail. From the stolen mail, they acquired credit cards, merchant cards and convenience checks, in addition to account numbers and personal identifiers of victims. They used these items to buy merchandise for themselves without authorization from the true account holders.

Co-defendant Dawn Renee Wessling was sentenced to 18 months in prison on January 22, 2013, for her role in the conspiracy.

This case is the product of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney Grant B. Rabenn is prosecuting the case.