CONCORD, NH – Everton Ellis, 41, of Yonkers, New York, has confessed to orchestrating a brazen fraud and identity theft scheme that flooded New Hampshire with stolen goods, according to federal prosecutors. Ellis pleaded guilty this week to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, along with aggravated identity theft – charges that could land him in prison for years.
The operation, carried out in December 2017 and January 2018, involved the systematic theft of personal identification information. Ellis and his accomplices allegedly used these stolen identities to open numerous Sprint accounts, racking up thousands of dollars in fraudulent purchases of iPhones and iPads. The scheme wasn’t just about online orders; it involved a coordinated effort to intercept the deliveries.
Court documents reveal the crew secured a large quantity of Vanilla Visa debit cards, which were then used to establish the fraudulent Sprint accounts. Posing as the identity theft victims, they ordered high-value electronics on credit, directing shipments to addresses across New Hampshire. Following delivery, Ellis and his co-conspirators brazenly trespassed onto the properties to steal the packages, effectively turning residential neighborhoods into their personal distribution centers.
The investigation, a joint effort by the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Nashua Police Department, uncovered further evidence of planning and logistics. Ellis and his team rented a vehicle and motel room in Nashua specifically to facilitate the scheme. They even manufactured and possessed fake photo ID cards bearing the names of New Hampshire residents – a clear attempt to further conceal their activities.
U.S. Attorney Scott W. Murray emphasized the office’s commitment to combating fraud, particularly cases involving stolen identities. “We particularly focus on cases where individuals’ identities are stolen or compromised,” Murray stated. Raymond Moss, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, added, “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to preserving the integrity of the U.S. Mail.”
Everton Ellis is scheduled to be sentenced on November 29, 2018. Assistant U.S. Attorney John S. Davis is prosecuting the case. While the full extent of the damage caused by this operation remains unclear, authorities are confident that disrupting this scheme will prevent further harm to potential victims. The investigation remains ongoing, and further arrests are possible.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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