Ekow Harley, Mail Fraud & Identity Theft, Pennsylvania 2022

Table of Contents

Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 48 Months in Prison for Mail Fraud and Identity Theft

HARRISBURG – A Philadelphia man has been sentenced to 48 months in prison for his role in a mail fraud and identity theft scheme that resulted in a loss of over $90,000 and affected at least 33 victims.

Ekow Harley, 33, was sentenced by United States Judge Christopher C. Conner on March 23, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Harley was found guilty of mail fraud and aggravated identity theft.

According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Harley was a member of a conspiracy that used the personal identifying information of unknowing victims to open Sprint cell phone accounts. Co-conspirators would then order cell phones and have them shipped to residences, which were not associated with the victims or the conspiracy members.

Once the packages were delivered, the tracking numbers were sent to co-conspirators, including Harley, who would pick up the packages from the houses. Through this scheme, Harley was personally responsible for over $90,000 in losses and the use of the identity of at least 33 victims.

Gerrit Deku and Joseph Ofori were also members of the conspiracy. Deku was sentenced to 34 months imprisonment on March 23, 2022, while Ofori received one year of probation on August 16, 2022.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Ford prosecuted the case.

Harley’s sentence is a reminder of the consequences of committing mail fraud and identity theft. These crimes can have serious consequences, including lengthy prison sentences and significant financial losses for victims.