Shannon Lester Sorrells, Bank Fraud, California 2014

Shannon Lester Sorrells, Bank Fraud, California 2014

A federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment against Shannon Lester Sorrells, 36, of Dinuba, alleging he committed bank fraud and aggravated identity theft while awaiting trial for the original indictment.

According to the indictment, Sorrells stole three neighborhood delivery collection box units containing United States mail in Visalia in May and June 2014. He was released on his own recognizance and trial was scheduled for August 4, 2015.

However, the superseding indictment alleges that between December 2014 and February 2015, Sorrells obtained United States mail containing personal identification and financial information, including checks, of victims without their knowledge. He opened bank accounts in victims’ names and altered the checks and deposited them into the accounts.

At times when committing the fraud, Sorrells presented himself as one of the victims whose identities he stole. Sorrells has been in custody since March 5, 2015.

This case is the product of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Visalia Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Megan A. S. Richards and Jeffrey Spivak are prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Sorrells faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine on the bank fraud charges, five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for theft of mail, and a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence for the aggravated identity theft charge.

The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/tulare-county-man-charged-committing-more-mail-theft-crimes-while-pending-trial-mail