Three individuals from Foley have been sentenced for their involvement in drug, fraud, and identity theft crimes. Zachary Heaton Thaggard, 32, Randall Lee Cahoon, 45, and Cheryl Ann Morgan, 73, pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, bank fraud conspiracy, and aggravated identity theft.
Court documents reveal that between February 2022 and November 2023, the defendants conspired to steal checks and personal identifying information from the mail. These materials were then used for fraudulent bank transactions. Notably, in February 2022, Morgan cashed a counterfeit check at a business in Robertsdale. In January 2023, police found counterfeit checks made payable to Thaggard at a gas station in Loxley. By October 2023, Cahoon was conducting fraudulent transactions at a credit union in Foley and was later arrested with counterfeit checks and other illegal items.
In November 2023, narcotics agents arrested Thaggard in Atmore where they seized half a kilogram of fentanyl from his vehicle. Thaggard admitted his role in both drug-trafficking and fraud conspiracies.
United States District Judge Kristi K. DuBose sentenced Thaggard to 30 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release with conditions including drug testing and mental health treatment. No fine was imposed on him; however, he must pay $300 in special assessments.
Chief United States District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock sentenced Cahoon to 75 months in prison with five years of supervised release under similar conditions as Thaggard's sentence. Cahoon is also required to pay $2,468.80 in victim restitution along with $200 in special assessments. Morgan received time served plus three years of supervised release with credit restrictions; she must pay $350 in victim restitution and $100 in special assessments.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama.
The investigation into the fraud case involved several agencies including the United States Postal Inspection Service and local police departments. The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation into the drug-related offenses alongside other law enforcement agencies.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted these cases for the United States.