Greer Woman Pleads Guilty to Mail theft Conspiracy

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Donna Arledge, age 43, of Greer, pled guilty in federal court in Greenville, to a conspiracy to commit mail theft, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.  United States District Judge Bruce H. Hendricks, of Charleston, accepted the plea and will impose sentence after she has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Arledge and others stole mail in and around Greenville County in an effort to obtain bank account numbers, routing numbers, and identification information.  Once in possession of this material they would create counterfeit checks, or simply alter legitimate checks taken from the mail, and negotiate them to obtain money. 

The conspirators opened bank accounts in the names of others and used the accounts to deposit and withdraw stolen money. 

Ms. Drake stated the maximum penalty Arledge can receive is a fine of $250,000 and/or imprisonment for 5 years, plus a special assessment of $100.

The case was investigated by agents of the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office handled the case.

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