Los Angeles Man Sentenced for Role in $2.7 Million Stolen Checks Scam

LOS ANGELES—A Los Angeles man was sentenced July 24 to four years and nine months in federal prison for his role in a scheme that defrauded banks and credit unions out of at least $2.7 million by depositing checks stolen from the mail into bank accounts belonging to accomplices recruited through Instagram. Jose Luis Edeza Jr., 31, of Sunland, pleaded guilty in May in downtown Los Angeles to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. From October 2020 to last August, Mr. Edeza and co-conspirators took part in the scheme that involved stealing checks from the mail, including some that were taken from collection boxes outside post offices. The thieves would then contact account holders through social media and solicit them to provide their debit cards and bank account information, promising them a cut of any stolen funds deposited into their accounts....