tl;dr
Jessica Bailey Sowell, a North Carolina woman, was sentenced to 57 months in prison and five years of supervised release for carrying out an identity theft and bank fraud scheme from March 2023 to February 2024. She created fraudulent IDs using stolen personal information from at least 26 victims, o...
Jessica Bailey Sowell, a North Carolina woman, was sentenced to 57 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for committing identity theft, bank fraud, and illegal firearm possession. Her criminal scheme, which lasted from March 2023 to February 2024, involved at least 26 victims and resulted in losses totaling $47,190.25.
Sowell created fraudulent identification documents using stolen personal information obtained through mail theft, the internet, and other sources. She used these fake IDs to access bank accounts, hotels, and retail stores, effectively spending money under the names of her victims.
Authorities executed a federal search warrant at Sowell’s hotel room, discovering extensive evidence including stolen mail, merchandise, fake IDs, an identity card printer, and even a Taurus G3 9mm handgun, which she was not legally allowed to possess.
Law enforcement found handwritten journals listing victim names and credit information, hundreds of pieces of stolen mail, dozens of driver’s licenses bearing Sowell’s photo but the personal data of victims, and receipts tied to fraudulent credit card transactions. Additionally, investigators recovered credit cards and blank identity materials from her rental vehicle.
The court ordered Sowell to pay restitution totaling $47,190.25 to compensate her victims. Her sentencing underscores the significant financial and personal harm caused by identity theft and fraudulent activities.