Missouri Man Sentenced to 65 Months in Prison for Stealing from Financial Firm’s Customers

ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge John A. Ross on Tuesday sentenced the former employee of a financial firm who used client information to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from clients to 65 months in prison.

From August 2022 through April of 2024, Calvin Lee Gray, 24, used his access to customers’ private information in a long-running scheme to attempt to steal more than $550,000 from dozens of victims. He was successful in stealing $357,582, which he will now have to repay.

Gray used his position at the firm to view private customer information for hundreds of accounts without a legitimate purpose, and stole customer information including birthdates, Social Security numbers and financial account information. He used that information to impersonate customers in phone calls and electronic communication with other financial institutions, to change their addresses to his own and have their credit cards reissued to him. He also applied for new lines of credit. He used that information to travel, buy luxury goods, gamble and transfer money to other accounts under his control. Gray opened a checking account in one customer’s name, transferred other customers’ money into that account and then withdrew $1,780 in a series of ATM transactions. Gray fabricated identification documents with his picture but the personal information of others so that he could use those documents to access financial accounts.

Gray also fabricated identification documents in the name of his mother, Joann Helms. Helms withdrew money from the account of one victim twice, via an ATM. She allowed Gray to use her account to launder the proceeds of his crime. She also went on shopping sprees her son, during which he made lavish purchases, her plea says. Helms used some of the money Gray gave her to make other purchases, including methamphetamine.

Gray, of Columbia, Missouri, who is also known as Dustin Whitehead, pleaded guilty in April to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of fraud in connection with identification documents. Helms now 52, of De Soto, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of fraud in connection with identification documents. She is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has also barred Gray from working for or associating with any firm that is a FINRA member.

“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is charged with defending the nation’s mail system from illegal use.  With the collaborative efforts of our federal law enforcement partners, Postal Inspectors investigate fraudsters who utilize the U.S. Mail to perpetuate financial schemes to defraud others to enrich themselves.  Postal Inspectors seek justice for victims including those most vulnerable,” said Inspector in Charge, Ruth Mendonça, who leads the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which includes the St. Louis Field Office.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwen Carroll prosecuted the case.