RICHMOND, Va. — A Richmond man pled guilty in federal court for taking part in a conspiracy to steal mail from the U.S. Postal Service and use what they stole to commit bank fraud. The plea deal was just part of what prosecutors called a larger, nearly year-long scheme that resulted in hundreds of thousands of stolen dollars.
Olden Ellerbe III, 24, admitted in court that he was part of a larger conspiracy with at least one other person to steal mail and fraudulently take money from banks with what they stole.
The statement of facts filed as part of the plea deal said the group stole the mail through various methods including from blue USPS drop boxes.
Prosecutors said the conspirators would take stolen checks and repurpose them. still taking money from the person who wrote the check, but making themselves or accomplices the recipients. They also alleged the group created fake IDs using other people’s information, applied for loans, and then withdrew the money.
Finally, prosecutors said the group used stolen credit and debit cards to make withdrawals from people’s bank accounts.