NC man admits to stealing mail, using information to commit wire fraud
A North Carolina man admitted in federal court to stealing mail from people's mailboxes and using that stolen information to commit wire fraud, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Soheil Akhavan Rezaie, 37, from Charlotte, pleaded guilty to targeting neighbors in and near Charlotte in 2021 through March 2022. He admitted to stealing large quantities of mail, including credit cards and tax forms, the DOJ said in a release.
Using information he obtained through residents' mail, Rezaie was able to withdraw funds from people's accounts and write checks to himself. In total, he was able to fraudulently obtain more than $150,000 in his "check cashing scheme," authorities with the DOJ said.
Rezaie already was convicted of mail theft in 2017 for a similar scheme. This time, he pleaded guilty to wire fraud and could face 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines. Rezaie's sentencing date has not yet been set.
