Identity Theft—Stolen Mail

A federal judge in Baltimore, Maryland has sentenced two men for their roles in a mail-theft and bank fraud conspiracy.^[1] Oladapo Udukale was sentenced to nine years and seven months in prison, and his associate, Morsuru Sogbesan, was sentenced to four years and seven months for his lesser role in the identity theft scheme.^[2] In addition, a Southwest Airlines baggage handler, Kehinde Akintola Oladapo, and his wife, Olushola Oladapo, have already been convicted for their role in the scheme.^[3] Mr. Oladapo was sentenced to fourteen years in prison, and Mrs. Oladapo was sentenced to five years in prison.^[4]

When Mr. Oladapo was sentenced, it was announced that credit cards, convenience checks, and other financial documents were being stolen from mail transported through flights leaving BWI Airport.^[5] The materials were then sent to Brooklyn New York where Oladapo Udukale and Morsuru Sogbesan processed the documents.^[6] The conspirators then used the stolen materials to obtain cash advances and withdrawals from lines of credit, as well as obtain goods and services.^[7]

Mail Theft
Under 18 U.S.C. § 1708, it is a crime for a person to steal, take, or by fraud or deception obtain, any letters or packages from any mail route.

Violating section 1708 can be punished with a fine, imprisonment for up to five years, or both.

Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud
Under 18 U.S.C. § 1349, any person who conspires to commit a fraud offense, such as bank fraud, will be punished as if he had actually committed the fraud.

Bank fraud is criminalized under 18 U.S.C. § 1344, which states that any person who knowingly executes a scheme or artifice to defraud a financial institution, or to obtain money from a financial institution by means of fraudulent pretenses, can be punished by a fine of up to $1,000,000, sentenced to up to 30 years in prison, or both.

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[1] Two Sentenced in Airport Mail, Identity Theft Scheme, Associated Press, Oct. 31, 2005, available here [hereinafter AP].
[2] Id.
[3] US Department of Justice, Press Release: Former BWI Baggage Handler Sentenced to 14 Years for Bank Fraud and Mail Theft, Sep. 21, 2005, available here (PDF).
[4] AP, supra note 1.
[5] US DOJ, supra note 3.
[6] Id.
[7] Id.