GREENVILLE, SC – A pair of Upstate South Carolina residents have confessed to a brazen scheme to steal mail, forge checks, and fuel a methamphetamine addiction. Nerissa A. Orr, 42, of Simpsonville, and Craig A. Mann, 21, of Greenville, both pled guilty today in federal court to conspiracy to commit mail theft, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.
According to evidence presented in court, Orr and Mann weren’t just looking for bills and coupons. They were actively targeting mail in and around Greenville County for bank account numbers, routing numbers, and personal identification information. The goal? To manufacture counterfeit checks and cash them in, all to support a growing methamphetamine habit. This wasn’t a petty crime; it was a calculated effort to defraud citizens and feed a dangerous addiction.
The investigation, which led to the guilty pleas, initially targeted Cary L. Wright, 38, of Greenville. A June 10, 2016, raid on Wright’s home uncovered a treasure trove of stolen goods: mail belonging to numerous victims, stolen checks, financial transaction cards, blank check stock, and a computer rigged for check counterfeiting. Wright has already been sentenced to 51 months in the Bureau of Prisons for his role in the operation – a clear signal that federal authorities are taking mail theft seriously.
Crucially, investigators found numerous counterfeit checks made out to both Mann and Orr, though many hadn’t yet been cashed. This linked the pair directly to the forgery operation. The discovery of these pre-written checks painted a clear picture of their intent to profit from the stolen information. U.S. District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks, of Charleston, will determine their fate after a presentence report is completed by the U.S. Probation Office.
United States Attorney Beth Drake stated the maximum penalty for the conspiracy is a $250,000 fine and/or up to five years in federal prison, along with a $100 special assessment. While sentencing is still pending, this conviction sends a strong message that such schemes will not be tolerated. The streets of Greenville, and the U.S. Mail, deserve better.
The case was a collaborative effort, investigated by the dedicated agents of the Greenville City Police Department and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins, of the Greenville office, skillfully prosecuted the case, bringing these criminals to justice. Contact Lance Crick at (864) 282-2105 for further information.
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Key Facts
- State: South Carolina
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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