A man from Theodore, Sean Donnell White, has been sentenced to 32 months in prison after being convicted for his role in multiple fraud schemes, including aggravated identity theft. Sean Donnell White, 30, was involved in a series of illegal activities between 2020 and 2022, which caused significant financial damage to victims and banks.
Fraudulent Bank Transactions Using Stolen Information
One of the main ways Sean Donnell White carried out his fraud schemes was by stealing personal information from the mail. He would collect bank account numbers and other private details from people’s letters and use them to create counterfeit checks. White’s partner in this crime was Kristen Arieale Williams, a postal worker, who helped him by providing an “arrow” key, a special tool that unlocks postal collection boxes. Williams sold the key to White for $2,500 in cash.
Sean Donnell White used the key to steal hundreds of pieces of mail from collection boxes outside a shopping mall in Mobile, Alabama, in November 2022. After gaining access to this private information, White was able to create fake checks and use them to make fraudulent transactions at banks. This resulted in a loss of over $69,500 for the victims whose mail White had stolen. His actions were a direct violation of trust and privacy, affecting many innocent people.
Cryptocurrency Scam Costs Banks Over $200,000
In addition to stealing from people’s mail, Sean Donnell White also operated a complex cryptocurrency scam. He bought stolen identities from dark web marketplaces, where illegal activities like these are often traded. With these fake identities, White opened accounts with Coinbase, a popular cryptocurrency exchange, and linked them to bank accounts he controlled.
Frankfort Attorney Brian Logan Admits to Fraud, Identity Theft, and Money Laundering
Sean Donnell White targeted banks that allowed customers to overdraw their accounts by large amounts—sometimes as much as $35,000. He took advantage of these overdraft policies by withdrawing more money than he had in the account, and then used the funds to trade cryptocurrencies. While some of his trades were profitable, others resulted in financial losses. However, any profits made from the trades were transferred into accounts White controlled. This scheme allowed him to siphon off a total of $210,000 in ill-gotten money, leaving the victim banks with significant losses if his trades did not succeed.
Sentence and Restitution Ordered by the Court
In total, Sean Donnell White’s actions led to a number of serious charges, including bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and wire fraud. After being convicted in court, Judge DuBose sentenced White to 32 months in prison. In addition to the prison term, White will serve five years of supervised release after his release from prison. During this time, he will be required to undergo drug testing and treatment, as well as follow strict rules regarding his credit usage.
Sean Donnell White was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims affected by his fraud schemes. The total restitution amount is $35,334.10, and he must also pay a money judgment of $210,000 to the victim banks. On top of that, White was fined $300 in special assessments for his crimes. These financial penalties are part of the effort to make sure that the victims receive compensation for the harm caused by White’s illegal actions.
Williams, the postal worker who helped White in stealing the “arrow” key, was also convicted for her role in the fraud schemes. She was sentenced to three years in federal prison and ordered to pay victim restitution.
The sentence serves as a reminder of the severe consequences of fraud and identity theft. It also highlights how criminals can use new technologies and illegal methods, such as the dark web and cryptocurrency, to carry out their schemes. Sean Donnell White’s actions caused serious harm to many individuals and businesses, and the courts have taken strong steps to hold him accountable for his crimes.
