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Press Release

Red Bluff Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud, Identity Theft and Possession of Stolen U.S. Mail

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of California

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Crystal Candiece Cooper, 35, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to executing a bank fraud scheme with contents of stolen U.S. Mail, aggravated identity theft, and possession of stolen U.S. Mail, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, between December 19, 2015 and March 27, 2017, Cooper and others operated an identity theft scheme. Cooper obtained financial and identity information, checks, credit cards and bank cards from stolen U.S. mail and used them to get cash, goods, and services. Cooper targeted postal customers in Red Bluff.

One victim had applied for federal social security benefits and expected to receive a debit card in the mail to access the money. Instead, Cooper obtained the mail stolen from the victim and found the victim’s debit card and other identifying information. Cooper was able to activate the card and set a PIN to give her access to the funds. She made four separate cash withdrawals using the bank card.

When Cooper was arrested by federal agents on March 27, 2017, Cooper possessed more stolen mail and identity information such as Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and driver’s license numbers for residents of Tehama and Shasta Counties.

This case is the product of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the Tehama County Sheriff’s Department and the Red Bluff Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rodriguez is prosecuting the case.

Cooper is scheduled to be sentenced on September 12, 2017, by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez. Cooper faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for the bank fraud conviction, a mandatory two years in prison consecutive to any other term and a $250,000 fine for the aggravated identity theft, and five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for possession of stolen mail. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

Updated June 7, 2017

Topic
Identity Theft
Press Release Number: 2:17-cr-075 JAM