Related Federal Cases
- Salathiel D. Harrison, Mail Theft Conspiracy, South Carolina 2023 · South Carolina
- Nerissa A. Orr, Conspiracy to Commit Mail Theft, South Carolina 2024 · North Carolina
- Marvin Songlin, Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud, South Carolina 2024 · South Carolina
- Michael Mark McAdams, Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, South Carolina 2018 · South Carolina
- Tyrone Goodrum, Conspiracy to Defraud, South Carolina 2024 · South Carolina
Mail Theft Ring Busted in South Carolina
In a shocking case of mail theft, 14 individuals have pleaded guilty to their involvement in a conspiracy to steal United States mail in South Carolina.
The defendants, Wendy B. Sisk, age 44, Crystal D. Hudson, age 33, Jason Tomsha, age 46, Shannon D. Ashworth, age 33, Tonya M. Reid, age 38, John T. Eskew, age 28, Casey Hembree, age 20, Justin D. Powers, age 24, Whitney Strickland, age 27, Danny C. Buford, age 47, Ashley N. Burdette, age 29, James M. Day, age 44, Andrew C. Keaton, age 23, and Bonnie Reid, age 57, all of Anderson, appeared in federal court in Anderson and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal United States mail, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.
The investigation, led by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, the Anderson City Police Department, and other local agencies, uncovered an organization that regularly stole mail from residential boxes, sorted the stolen mail for checks and personal identifying information, created altered or counterfeit checks, and created false identification documents. Multiple counterfeit and altered checks were passed throughout the upstate, resulting in estimated losses exceeding $160,000.
The defendants’ actions were motivated by a desire to obtain funds to purchase methamphetamine. Since the arrest of the defendants in April 2015, Postal Inspectors report that complaints of mail theft in Anderson County have markedly dropped.
The maximum penalty the defendants can receive is a fine of $250,000 and/or imprisonment for 5 years, plus a special assessment of $100.
The case was investigated by agents of the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, the Anderson City Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office handled the case.
Contact Person: Bill Watkins (864) 282-2100.
Key Facts
- State: South Carolina
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
