Date: 08-18-2017

Case Style:

Case Number: 1:16-cr-03478-JCH

Judge: Judith C. Herrera

Court: United States District Court for the District of New Mexico (Bernalillo county)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Nicholas Jon Ganjei and Paul Mysliwiec.

Defendant's Attorney: Don Kochersberger

Description: Albuquerque, NM - Albuquerque Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud, Identity Theft and Theft of Mail Charges

Katie Carrillo, 26, of Albuquerque, N.M., pled guilty on August 18, 2017 to conspiracy, fraud, identify theft and theft of mail charges.

Carrillo and co-defendant, Ralph Eastman, 48, also of Albuquerque, were charged in a 16-count indictment on Aug. 23, 2016, with conspiracy, ten counts of bank fraud, three counts of aggravated identity theft, and two counts of theft of mail. According to the indictment, the defendants committed the offenses from Dec. 2015 through April 2016, in Bernalillo County, N.M., by stealing mail and packages from cluster mailboxes located in apartment complexes. The mail stolen included checkbooks, checks, ATM cards, PIN numbers and personal identifiers of victims, which the defendants allegedly used to commit further crimes.

Carrillo pled guilty to conspiracy, two counts of bank fraud, two counts of aggravated identity theft and two counts of theft or receipt of stolen mail. Carrillo entered the guilty plea without the benefit of a plea agreement. At sentencing, Carrillo faces a maximum penalty of five years of imprisonment on the conspiracy and theft of mail charges, and a maximum penalty of 30 years on the bank fraud charges. She also faces a mandatory term of two years of imprisonment on the aggravated identity theft charge, which must be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed.

On Aug. 2, 2017, Eastman pled guilty to the charges against him in the indictment, namely, conspiracy, eight counts of bank fraud, and two counts of theft of mail. Eastman also pled guilty to a felony information charging him with aggravated identify theft. In entering the guilty plea, Eastman admitted that from Dec. 2015 through April 2016, he conspired with others to steal mail and packages for the purpose of obtaining financial information and forms of identification. Eastman also admitted that he and others altered checks and used them at local businesses in exchange for goods, services and online transactions. In addition, Eastman admitted that he and others used stolen identifications and personal information to facilitate fraudulent transactions. In his plea agreement, Eastman also acknowledged that he and others stole mail and packages from authorized depositories for the U.S. Postal Service through mailboxes located at an Albuquerque apartment complex on March 9, 2016 and March 12, 2016. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Eastman will be sentenced to 36 months and one day in prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.

The U.S. Postal Service, the Albuquerque Police Department and the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case.

Outcome: Guilty

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Defendant's Experts:

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