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Press Release

Three Jacksonville Men Indicted For Aggravated Identity Theft, Attempted Bank Fraud, And Possession Of Counterfeit Securities

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the return of an indictment charging Jacksonville residents Hezekiah Williams (59), Travis Jerome Ware (24), and David Lee Mitchell (53) with aggravated identity theft, attempted bank fraud, and possession of counterfeit business checks. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for each attempted bank fraud charge, up to 10 years in prison for each counterfeit charge, and a 2-year, mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for each aggravated identity theft offense. All three were arraigned on May 20, 2015, and are being detained pending trial.

According to the indictment, in November 2014, Williams, Ware, and Mitchell obtained genuine forms of identification, such as driver licenses, that contained the personal identification information of various victims. They also obtained 25 counterfeit business checks, some of which were made payable to names that corresponded to the forms of identification in their possession. They then attempted to cash the checks at financial institutions.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless,  and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol and the United States Secret Service. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.

Updated May 29, 2015

Topics
Financial Fraud
Identity Theft