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Press Release

Two Sentenced for Identity and Mail Theft in Sacramento, San Joaquin, and Stanislaus Counties

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

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Derek Hillgert, 29, of Carmichael, and Jeffrey Wilhite, 31, of Linden, were each sentenced Monday to five years in prison for committing access device fraud, aggravated identity theft, and possession of stolen mail, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, Hillgert and Wilhite worked together to steal U.S. mail and conduct transactions with stolen identities. On the day of their arrests, they possessed over 200 pieces of stolen mail addressed to over 100 victims. With Wilhite’s assistance, Hillgert used a stolen identity to purchase a van at a dealership in Modesto. Hillgert presented a fraudulent driver’s license in the other person’s name but with Hillgert’s photograph, and he obtained a loan in the other person’s name for over $39,000. Wilhite opened a Target debit card account using a second stolen identity, and the defendants made more than $3,000 in purchases with it.

This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the Tracy Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Miriam R. Hinman prosecuted the case.

Updated February 26, 2019

Topic
Identity Theft
Press Release Number: 2:18-cr-112 WBS