Four men from Franklin County, Missouri, have confessed to using checks stolen from the U.S. Mail to carry out bank fraud. Matthew Cahill, 40, admitted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and four counts of bank fraud. From February 2020 through September 2021, Cahill and others stole personal and business checks, bank account information, and personal identifying information by taking mail from mailboxes, residences, and vehicles. They altered or counterfeited these checks for use at retail stores or deposited them at banks. Cahill also accessed a victim's account electronically to send an unauthorized ACH payment. The scheme resulted in losses totaling $67,807.
Cahill is set for sentencing on May 29.
Donald Anderson, 36, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and three counts of bank fraud. He was sentenced to 24 months in prison with five years of supervised release and must repay $26,527.
Joshua Hopkins, 35, admitted guilt to two counts of bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. He received a sentence of 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and was ordered to repay $1,395.
Harvey Hale, 48, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of bank fraud. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison with three years of supervised release and must repay $19,550.
The investigation involved the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Secret Service, the Franklin County Sheriff's Office as well as police departments from Washington City, Union City, Eureka City, St. Clair City and St. Charles City. Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Klocke is handling the prosecution.