SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an eight-count indictment today against Carlos Aranda, 40, and Daniel Hunt, 37, both of Sacramento, charging them with conspiracy, bank fraud, and possession of stolen mail, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. Aranda is also charged with possession of mail keys or locks.
According to court documents, Aranda, Hunt, and others engaged in a conspiracy to obtain and counterfeit postal keys, which used to steal mail from the U.S. mail system. From the stolen mail, Aranda, Hunt, and their conspirators obtained identifying information, financial information, and financial instruments of other people. The conspirators periodically gathered together at motel rooms to alter or “wash” checks together. The conspirators then took the checks and attempted to negotiate, deposit, or cash them.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot C. Wong is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Aranda and Hunt face a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for each count of bank fraud, and a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the counts of conspiracy and possession of stolen mail. Aranda further faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the count of possession of a mail key or lock. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.