West Sacramento Woman Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud and Identity Theft
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Kimberly Acevedo, 52, of West Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to one count of mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
Between March 2019 and March 2021, Acevedo and co-defendant Philip Rich, 50, of West Sacramento, perpetrated a mail fraud scheme that involved theft of U.S. mail, identity theft, and unlawful possession of dozens of stolen bank cards.
Generally, Acevedo and Rich obtained the personally identifiable information (PII) of victims and used that information to apply for new credit cards, debit cards, checkbooks, and other financial instruments to be sent to the victims’ real home addresses.
The defendants then submitted change-of-address requests to the U.S. Postal Service at www.usps.com using the victims’ PII. These change-of-address requests rerouted the victims’ mail to defendants’ shared home address, where they would open the mail and use its contents to make fraudulent purchases and cash fraudulent checks.
When federal agents executed a search warrant at defendants’ residence on Oct. 14, 2020, they seized dozens of notebooks filled with hundreds, if not thousands, of identity-theft victim PII. The notebooks were scattered throughout the house, though mainly located in defendants’ shared bedroom.
In addition, agents recovered an envelope, labeled “ID Templates,” in the bedroom containing approximately 10-15 fake California driver’s licenses in the names of various victims, but featuring Acevedo and Rich’s photographs and fake authentication features.
Agents also recovered the tools required to construct the fake IDs as well as a magstripe device. Further, agents recovered over 50 credit and debit cards in the home as well as approximately 40 checkbooks in victims’ names as well as in the names of Rich and Acevedo.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Denise N. Yasinow and Robert J. Artuz are prosecuting the case.
On Oct. 4, 2022, Rich, was sentenced to three years and three months in prison. Acevedo is scheduled for sentencing by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on March 28, 2023.
Acevedo faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison for mail fraud and a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft. She faces a maximum fine of $250,000 on each count.
The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
The scheme caused over $110,000 in actual and intended loss.
This is the latest in a string of high-profile identity theft cases in the region, and it serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting one’s personal identifiable information.
Acevedo is currently being held without bail and is scheduled to appear in court on March 28, 2023 for sentencing.
In related news, the US Postal Inspection Service and the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office are partnering with local businesses and residents to provide education and resources on how to prevent identity theft.
Residents are encouraged to take steps to protect their personal identifiable information, including using strong passwords, monitoring credit reports, and being cautious of phishing scams.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News