The U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida said a federal judge sentenced Connor Lee Austin, 31, of Starke to 18 months in federal prison and Maranda Ann Stewart, 26, of Starke to 6 months for theft of mail. The court ordered the pair to pay restitution to the victims in the case. Stewart had pleaded guilty on June 27, and Austin had pleaded guilty on July 12.
Prosecutors said the case began when the Clay County Sheriff’s Office received multiple reports of mail being stolen from mailboxes in the Keystone Heights area. Surveillance footage from homes in that area captured a truck containing two individuals driving down roads and stealing mail from mailboxes. Law enforcement subsequently identified the driver as Stewart and Austin as the passenger.
“Follow-up investigation by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Postal Inspection Service – Jacksonville Office determined that after stealing mail, Austin and Stewart used Austin’s phone in an effort to deposit stolen checks into their bank accounts through mobile deposit,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. “They also obtained funds by forging signatures on checks stolen from the mail and subsequently cashing the fraudulent checks. Law enforcement recovered mail stolen by Austin and Stewart from Baker, Bradford, Clay, Duval, and Putnam Counties.”
