Austin Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Mail Fraud and Identity Theft
A 55-year-old man has been sentenced to 65 months in prison for stealing mail and personal identification information from hundreds of victims, announced United States Attorney Richard Durbin, Jr. on January 23, 2017.
David Akharume Afenkhena was sentenced by United States District Judge Sam Sparks, who also ordered that Afenkhena pay $50,961.15 restitution and that he be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term.
Afenkhena pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. By pleading guilty, Afenkhena admitted that in 2016, he used a United States Postal Service (USPS) ‘Arrow Key’ to gain access to the contents of mail boxes located at various apartment complexes in and around Austin.
He would change the victims’ mailing address to mailboxes he had access to, and then use the stolen personal identification information to open credit card accounts and bank accounts in victims’ names associated with the new fraudulent addresses. He also admitted to using the stolen personal identification information to file fraudulent income tax returns in order to receive refund checks in the mail.
‘The Postal Inspection Service has sought for hundreds of years those who use the Postal Service for illegal gain,’ stated Inspector in Charge Adrian Gonzalez, United States Postal Inspection Service. ‘The ability to use the mail in a safe and secure manner is at the core of the Postal Inspection Service’s mission. When criminals use the mail to defraud, Postal Inspectors will not hesitate to ensure they are brought to justice.’
Assistant United States Attorney Michael Galdo prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.
The United States Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations conducted this investigation.
The defendant’s exact criminal charges are mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. He was sentenced in Austin, Texas on January 23, 2017 and ordered to pay $50,961.15 restitution and serve a prison term of 65 months.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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