Mail Theft and Bank Fraud Scheme Results in Federal Prison Sentence

MEDFORD, Ore. – Christopher Alan Page, 32, of Talent, Oregon was sentenced Thursday to 36 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael J. McShane after his convictions for bank fraud, aggravated identity theft and unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon.  The sentence included a mandatory consecutive term of two years’ imprisonment required by federal law because a victim’s identification was possessed or used in committing bank fraud.  Page was also ordered to pay over $50,000 in restitution.

In February 2015, Page stole mail from more than 100 mailboxes in rural Josephine County, Oregon.  Page was identified when a citizen confronted Page while he was in the process of stealing mail and took video of the confrontation with his cell phone.  When Page was arrested, the police seized multiple credit cards and checks in the names of numerous mail theft victims.  Authorities also seized large quantities of stolen mail, fraudulent debit/credit cards, stolen identity profiles, a credit card embossing machine, a credit card reader and several boxes of ammunition.  Authorities also found a victim profile list, containing personal identifying information, that Page had created

The investigation determined that Page attempted to steal more than $275,000 in 54 separate fraudulent credit card transactions made using his Square, Inc. account, although most of those transactions were identified as fraudulent before Page was able to obtain the funds.  Page has prior criminal convictions for burglaries, unauthorized use of a vehicle, recklessly endangering another person, possession of heroin and attempting to elude police on several occasions. 

This case was investigated by the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S.  Attorney Byron Chatfield.