A 20-year-old Tallahassee man, Romeo Wilson, has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison following his guilty plea to an array of financial crimes, including conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
The sentence was handed down in federal court Friday.
Wilson’s sentence includes 24 months and one day in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. The first year of his supervised release will include home detention. In addition to the prison time, Wilson has been ordered to pay over $65,000 in restitution to his victims, which comprise financial institutions, businesses, and individuals.
READ: Fugitive Apprehended In Lakeland After Several Weeks On The Run
According to court documents, between February 1, 2023, and March 4, 2024, Wilson and his co-conspirators engaged in a scheme to defraud federally insured financial institutions in Tallahassee. Their activities included creating and depositing fraudulent checks, altering and depositing checks stolen from the U.S. Mail, and making unauthorized withdrawals from victims’ bank accounts using their personal information. Wilson also facilitated the scheme by providing vehicles and recruiting individuals to open bank accounts to receive the illicit proceeds.
Wilson’s arrest occurred on March 4, 2024, after he attempted to flee from a traffic stop conducted by officers from the Tallahassee Police Department.
Acting U.S. Attorney Spaven emphasized the commitment of her office and law enforcement partners to combating such crimes. “Our citizens and their personal identifying information are the constant targets of devious criminals,” said 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.”
READ: Minnesota AG, 14 States Sue President Trump Over ‘Fabricated’ National Energy Emergency
Bladismir Rojo, Acting Inspector In Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Miami Division, highlighted the collaborative effort. “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 Rojo. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to investigate, identify, and hold mail thieves accountable.”
“It takes a community working together to solve cases like this,” said Sheriff 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.”
Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Ulrich of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General issued a stern warning to potential mail thieves. “Today’s sentencing sends a strong message to those anyone who thinks stealing U.S. Mail will go unpunished,” said Ulrich. “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.”
READ: 10 And 4-Year-Old Boys Identified As Victims In Saturday Largo Crash
Wilson had previously pleaded 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.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
