U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Jonathan Daniels, a 46-year-old resident of St. Petersburg, to 14 years and 7 months in federal prison. Daniels was convicted for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft on February 10, 2023.
Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Daniels and his co-conspirators orchestrated a scheme to remove bank liens from over 100 vehicles. They obtained clear titles by submitting fraudulent documents and fake certified mail receipts to Florida tax collector offices. This deception allowed them to sell the vehicles to unsuspecting buyers, depriving financial institutions and rightful owners of their property.
Special Agent in Charge Robert Engel of the United States Secret Service – Tampa Field Office commented on the investigation: “The Secret Service is proud to partner with the U.S Postal Inspection Service and the Florida Highway Patrol. The results of this investigation are a testament to strong partnerships across the law enforcement community."
Steven Hodges, Acting Postal Inspector in Charge of the Miami Division, stated: “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will aggressively investigate individuals who engage in fraudulent schemes at the expense of the American public and our financial institutions."
The case was investigated by several agencies including the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Florida Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Peresie prosecuted it.