Five Augustans await sentencing for stolen mail, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft in separate cases

Yahoo

6 days ago

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Five Richmond County defendants face various prison sentences after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a master key for postal service mailboxes and other felony counts occurring in 2023.
Davion Chelsea Easterling, 26, and Corey Jamario Gunter, 24, both of Augusta, await sentencing after pleading guilty to Aiding and Abetting Possession of a Stolen Mail Key. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, plea agreements subject each defendant to a statutory penalty of up to 10 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and up to three years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term.
According to court documents, Easterling was employed by the U.S. Postal Service and shared a residence with Gunter. An investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Richmond County Sheriff's Office in 2023, led to a search of their residence pursuant to a state search warrant, where investigators reportedly found large quantities of stolen mail and multiple postal bins, along with a master key used to access postal service boxes. The investigation revealed that mail was stolen from a USPS Blue Box, located at the U.S. Post Office, 3108 Peach Orchard Road in Augusta.
U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall will schedule sentencing hearings for Easterling and Gunter upon completion of pre-sentence investigations by U.S. Probation Services.
Cameron Martinas Curry, 22, and Quavaun Enreco Rhodes, 22, both of Augusta, await sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Stolen Mail Key, Possessing Stolen Mail Matter, Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft. Both face up to 30 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and up to five years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term.
Curry and Rhodes were detained by the Columbia County Sheriff's Office for a traffic stop after suspecting that the defendants had stolen mail from a USPS Blue Box, located at the U.S. Post Office, 125 Commercial Boulevard in Martinez. Upon contact with the defendants, the deputies observed what appeared to be stolen U.S. Mail inside the vehicle. An investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service determined that there was no forced entry on the USPS Blue Box. After searching the area, a pair of U.S. Postal Master Keys were found less than thirty yards from the vehicle.
A federal search warrant was obtained for both defendants' phones and agents found several check images with a face value totaling $485,000. Court documents showed that text messages and screenshots revealed that they had stolen checks from the mail and had been depositing, altering or selling them for the Purpose of Bank Fraud or Identity Theft.
U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen will schedule sentencing hearings for Curry and Rhodes upon completion of pre-sentence investigations by U.S. Probation Services.
Earl Demetrius Overton, 32, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, Bank Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft related to stolen mail. He faces up to 30 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and up to five years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term.
Overton was arrested by RCSO, pursuant to an arrest warrant, while driving a vehicle. The defendant was reportedly found to be in possession of a firearm and is a prohibited person because of a previous felony conviction.
A follow up search warrant of the defendant's home revealed numerous stolen checks, stolen mail, and various debit cards belonging to other people. Investigators revealed that Overton was stealing checks from the mail and depositing, altering or selling them for the purpose of Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft.
U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall will schedule a sentencing hearing for Overton upon completion of pre-sentence investigations by U.S. Probation Services.
'These cases are examples of individuals who made a decision to engage in criminal misconduct involving the U.S. mail that will not go unpunished,' said Rodney M. Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division. 'The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to protecting our customers and preserving the integrity of the mail.'
If you believe you are a victim of mail theft from the Martinez Post Office, or the Peach Orchard Road Post Office between the dates of March 1, 2023 and November 30, 2023, and you have not been contacted by the United States Attorney's Office, you can file a report by June 30, 2025, with the United States Postal Inspection Service at USPIS.gov/report, referencing USPIS Case Numbers 4183320-MT and 4207963-MT.
This investigation is on-going.
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