Jacksonville Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Bank Fraud Involving Stolen Mail

Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Frank Anthony Acanda (27, Jacksonville) to one year and one day in federal prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Acanda was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims he and his co-defendant, Jonathan Benavide Hidalgo, (27, Jacksonville) defrauded. 

According to court documents, for several months, Acanda, Hidalgo, and others drove around Fleming Island, Jacksonville, and St. Augustine and stole large volumes of mail from residential and business mailboxes. After opening the mail and stealing checks and money orders, Acanda, Hidalgo, and others acting on their behalf, deposited the items into bank accounts controlled by them and then used ATMs to immediately withdraw cash. In some instances, the co-defendants altered the stolen checks by increasing the amount of the checks to maximize the amount of money they could withdraw from ATMs.

Hidalgo pled guilty on September 5, 2024. He is set for sentencing on February 28, 2025.  

This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the United States Postal Inspection Service - Jacksonville Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.