TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Romeo Wilson, 20, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to more than 24 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, 14 counts of bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, possession of fifteen or more access devices, possession of a stolen United States Postal Service mail key, and possession of stolen mail. The sentence was announced by Michelle Spaven, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“Our citizens and their personal identifying information are the constant targets of devious criminals,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Spaven. “With our law enforcement partners, we remain committed to aggressively prosecuting those individuals who steal the identities of others and disrupt essential government services such as the U.S. Mail.”  

Court documents reflect that between February 1, 2023, and March 4, 2024, Wilson and others worked together to defraud or otherwise fraudulently obtain money from numerous federally insured financial institutions located in Tallahassee, Florida. During the scheme, Wilson and others created, deposited, or attempted to exchange fraudulent checks, altered and deposited checks which were stolen from the U.S. Mail, and made unauthorized withdraws from bank accounts of local victims using the victims’ personally identifying information. Wilson furthered the fraud by supplying vehicles and recruiting individuals to open bank accounts to receive fraud proceeds. Officers with the Tallahassee Police Department arrested Wilson on March 4, 2024, after he fled during a traffic stop.

In addition to his prison sentence, Wilson was also ordered to pay more than $65,000 in restitution to his victims, which include multiple financial institutions, businesses, and individuals. Wilson’s imprisonment will also be followed by three years of supervised release with home detention during the first year.

“The successful outcome of this investigation is a reflection of the hard work and dedicated service demonstrated by the entire law enforcement community in Tallahassee, FL,” said Bladismir Rojo, Acting Inspector In Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Miami Division. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to investigate, identify, and hold mail thieves accountable.”

The case is the result of a joint investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Tallahassee Police Department, Leon County Sheriff’s Office, United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Florida Department of Financial Services. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jordane New and Justin M. Keen.

“It takes a community working together to solve cases like this,” said Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil. “The public played a key role in helping to connect the dots and bring this defendant forward. We’re asking residents to stay alert, check their security cameras, and report anything unusual.”

“Today’s sentencing sends a strong message to those anyone who thinks stealing U.S. Mail will go unpunished,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Ulrich of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. “But for those who do, our special agents, along with our federal and local law enforcement partners, will aggressively investigate these federal crimes to protect the sanctity of the U.S. Mail and maintain the public’s trust.”

Florida Department of Financial Services Criminal Investigations Division (“CID”) Director Simon Blank said, “CID is committed to working with agencies across the state to protect Floridians from fraud, waste, and financial abuse. Thank you to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Tallahassee Police Department, the Leon County Sheriff's Office, and our federal and state law enforcement partners for helping deliver justice in this case.”

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.