JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville man has been indicted on bank fraud and mail theft charges connected to multiple Northeast Florida counties, according to federal prosecutors.
Frank Anthony Acanda, 26, has been charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, eight counts of bank fraud, conspiracy to commit mail theft and mail theft.
Recommended Videos
According to his indictment, Acanda and Jonathan Benavide Hidalgo drove around areas of Fleming Island, Jacksonville and St. Augustine for several months stealing mail from residential and business mailboxes -- a LOT of mail.
Prosecutors said the pair would open the mail, grab checks and money orders, then have them deposited in their bank accounts so they could get the cash out of ATMs.
In some cases, the pair altered the stolen checks and increased the amount to maximize how much they could withdraw, prosecutors said.
RELATED | Keeping your mail safe: Unwrapping the secrets of security
If convicted, Acanda would face up to 30 years in federal prison for each count of bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud and up to five years each for mail theft and conspiracy to commit mail theft.
Acanda would also have to repay the victims he and Hidalgo defrauded, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.