Jacksonville Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Aggravated Identity Theft

Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Travis Ware (24, Jacksonville) to two years in federal prison for his role in an identity theft and counterfeit check scheme.  He pleaded guilty on November 12, 2015.

According to court documents, on November 23, 2014, troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol pulled over a vehicle occupied by Ware and co-defendants David Lee Mitchell and Hezekiah Williams. During the traffic stop, the troopers observed marijuana inside the SUV. A search of the vehicle revealed 25 counterfeit business checks made out to various individuals and 15 forms of identification from 7 different people. Many of the names on the identification documents matched those printed on the counterfeit checks. Further investigation determined that Ware, Mitchell, and Williams had been driving around three days earlier attempting to fraudulently cash the counterfeit checks and recruiting others to use the ids to cash the checks. 

On October 2, 2015, Mitchell and Williams pleaded guilty to attempted bank fraud, possession of counterfeit business checks, and aggravated identity theft. They remain in federal custody pending a sentencing date. 

This case was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol and the United States Secret Service, Jacksonville Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.