ST. LOUIS – The U.S. District Court in St. Louis has indicted four men from Franklin County who are accused of committing fraud through stolen checks as well as stealing mail.
Beginning four years ago, in Feb. 2020, the four men retrieved bank account information, checks and personal information by stealing mail from homes and vehicles. Information found was then used to alter checks or create counterfeit checks, according to a release. These fraudulent checks were used at retail stores, cashed, or used to open a bank account.
Donald Anderson, 35, Matthew Cahill, 39, Harvey Hale, 47, and Joshua Hopkins, 34, are facing charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, multiple counts of bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
Cahill individually faces one count of possession of stolen mail. He and Hopkins are also facing several counts of aggravated identity theft.
Both Cahill and Hopkins have been arrested and pleaded not guilty. Anderson and Hale are in custody but have not yet appeared in court.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, each count of bank fraud is punishable by up to 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine, or both.
Charges of identity theft are punishable by up to two years in prison, consecutive to other charges, a fine up to $250,000, or both.
A stolen mail charge carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, $250,000, or both.
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