Anderson Man Sentenced to 40 Months for Mail Theft Conspiracy

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Cornelius N. Mattress., age 43, of Anderson, was sentenced in federal court in Greenville for his leadership in a conspiracy to commit mail theft, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.  United States District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks of Charleston sentenced Mattress to 40 months in the Bureau of Prisons, ordered that he pay $10,544.41 in restitution, and imposed a three-year term of supervised release.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Mattress and his co-conspirators stole mail in and around Anderson County in an effort to obtain blank checks that are often sent to bank customers along with their statements.  Once in possession of the checks, Mattress or a co-conspirator would open bank accounts, forge the checks, and deposit the checks into the accounts.  Mattress would withdraw money from the accounts before the fraud was discovered.  Mattress also recruited juveniles to cash checks and open accounts.   

The case was investigated by agents of the Anderson Police Department and the United States Postal Inspection Service.  Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office handled the case.

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