Charlotte Woman Sentenced For Bank Fraud, ID Theft, and Gun Crime

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Jessica Bailey Sowell, 32, of Charlotte, is headed to the slammer for 57 months after getting caught in a web of bank fraud, identity theft, and firearm possession.

Sowell was sentenced to 57 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and unlawful possession of a firearm. She’s also on the hook for $47,190.25 in restitution.

According to court records, Sowell orchestrated a massive identity theft and bank fraud scheme from March 2023 to February 2024. She used stolen personal identifying information (PII) to create fake IDs and rip off banks, hotels, and retail stores.

Law enforcement found a treasure trove of incriminating evidence at a hotel room where Sowell was staying. Investigators seized suitcases packed with mail, merchandise, and stolen credit cards. They also found a loaded handgun, a Taurus G3 9mm, that was bedazzled with sequins on the barrel.

Sowell’s got a rap sheet a mile long, including a 2021 federal aggravated identity theft conviction and a 2015 state felony conviction for possession with intent to distribute MDA/MDMA. That means she’s barred from possessing firearms.

Sowell pleaded guilty to the charges on August 5, 2024, and is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals. She’ll be transferred to the Federal Bureau of Prisons once a facility is designated.

The case was investigated by the Secret Service and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Savage prosecuted the case.