DOJ: Two Defendants Sentenced to Prison for Bank Fraud Conspiracy, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Illegal Firearms Possession

• The defendants stole U.S. mail to obtain checks, cards, and personal information, which they used to create counterfeit financial instruments and commit fraudulent transactions.
• They were ordered to pay $2,817.65 in restitution and will serve five-year supervised release terms with credit restrictions and drug testing.

Two individuals, EW Nelson and Thomas William Peters, III, were sentenced to 69 months and 40 months in prison for conspiring to commit bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and illegal firearms possession. They stole U.S. mail to obtain financial instruments and personal information, which they used to generate counterfeit checks and commit fraudulent transactions at banks.

Peters was apprehended after a high-speed chase, during which deputies seized loaded pistols, stolen checks, and altered money orders. Both defendants pleaded guilty, admitted to their roles in the scheme, and were ordered to pay $2,817.65 in restitution and $500 in special assessments, followed by five years of supervised release.

• 69 months Nelson's prison sentence
• 40 months Peters's prison sentence
• $2,817.65 victim restitution ordered

• Review recent account openings and transactions for patterns involving stolen mail, counterfeit checks, or altered money orders linked to Nelson or Peters.
• Update internal fraud typologies to include methods involving mail theft and the use of counterfeited financial instruments as described in the DOJ case.
• Screen for accounts or transactions involving the white Chevrolet Equinox or financial activity in Tillman’s Corner and Theodore during March-May 2024.

This case highlights the ongoing risks posed by mail theft and the use of stolen personal information to commit bank fraud and identity theft. Compliance officers must remain vigilant for schemes involving counterfeit checks, altered money orders, and fraudulent use of credit or debit cards. The involvement of firearms and prior felony convictions further underscores the need for robust due diligence and monitoring of suspicious activity, especially when multiple forms of fraud and criminal conduct are intertwined.