Mobile, AL – A 30-year-old man from Theodore, Alabama, Sean Donnell White, has been sentenced to 32 months in federal prison for orchestrating a complex web of fraud that preyed on both traditional mail systems and the digital world of cryptocurrency.
White’s criminal activities, spanning from 2020 to 2022, involved two distinct yet interconnected schemes:
1. The Mail Theft Operation:
- Insider Collaboration: White colluded with a postal employee, Kristen Arieale Williams, who, for $2,500, provided him with an “arrow key.” These highly restricted keys grant access to all blue collection boxes within a specific geographic area.
- Targeted Mail Theft: Armed with the arrow key, White targeted mailboxes outside Mobile’s Bel Air Mall, stealing hundreds of pieces of mail containing sensitive personal and financial information.
- Check Fraud Spree: Using the stolen data, White forged counterfeit checks, ultimately siphoning over $69,000 from victims’ accounts.
2. The Cryptocurrency Scam:
- Dark Web Connections: White delved into the dark web to purchase stolen identities, which he then used to open accounts at various banks and the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase.
- Exploiting Overdraft Policies: He strategically targeted banks with generous overdraft policies, allowing him to withdraw funds he didn’t possess.
- Cryptocurrency Trading with Unsettled Funds: White used these ill-gotten funds to engage in cryptocurrency trading on Coinbase. While he profited from successful trades, any losses were absorbed by the victim banks, resulting in over $210,000 in fraudulent gains for White.
Bringing Down the Operation:
- Multi-Agency Investigation: The investigation involved a collaborative effort by the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, USPS Office of Inspector General, U.S. Secret Service, and the Mobile Police Department, with assistance from the Brewton Police Department and the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General.
- Justice Served: White’s accomplice, Kristen Arieale Williams, was convicted in November 2023 and sentenced to three years in prison for her role in the mail theft scheme.
Consequences for White:
- Prison Sentence: U.S. District Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced White to 32 months in federal prison.
- Supervised Release and Restrictions: Upon release, White will be subject to five years of supervised release, including mandatory drug testing and treatment, and credit restrictions.
- Financial Penalties: Although no fine was imposed, White must pay over $35,000 in restitution to victims, a $210,000 money judgment, and $300 in special assessments.
A Warning and a Call to Action:
This case serves as a stark reminder of the evolving nature of criminal activity, exploiting both traditional and modern financial systems. U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello emphasized the importance of vigilance in protecting personal information and reporting any suspicious activity to authorities.
