Idaho Prison Inmate Admits Mail Fraud

BOISE – Mark Anthony Brown, 53, an inmate at the Idaho Correctional Center in Orofino, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court to two counts of mail fraud, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Brown was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boise on March 12, 2013.

According to court documents, from September 2007 to February 28, 2013, Brown devised a scheme to fraudulently obtain money from various class action lawsuits and large-scale bankruptcies. According to the plea agreement, Brown submitted numerous claim forms in which he falsely represented himself as a class member or creditor. He then mailed the claim forms to administrators of the settlements in order to receive settlement proceeds, and deposited the proceeds he received into his Idaho Department of Correction trust account, and into several different investment accounts, all through the use of the United States Mail. According to the plea agreement, Brown received approximately $60,000 as proceeds of his criminal activity, which he agreed to forfeit.

Each count of mail fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.

Sentencing is set for November 13, 2013, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Boise.

The case is being investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service with the cooperation of the Idaho Department of Correction.