A Theodore man, Sean Donnell White, has been sentenced to 32 months in prison for his involvement in multiple fraud schemes, including bank fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft. The sentence was handed down by Judge DuBose.

Court documents reveal that between 2020 and 2022, White engaged in fraudulent activities such as stealing mail to acquire victims' bank account information. He recruited postal employee Kristen Arieale Williams to assist him by selling him an "arrow" key for $2,500. This key enabled White to access blue postal collection boxes in a specific area. In November 2022, law enforcement apprehended White using the key to steal mail outside the Bel Air Mall in Mobile. He used the stolen information to create counterfeit checks, leading to fraudulent transactions totaling at least $69,508.69.

White also orchestrated a cryptocurrency scam by purchasing stolen identities from dark web marketplaces. With these identities, he opened Coinbase and bank accounts under his control. Exploiting banks that allowed significant overdrafts, he executed trades using unsettled funds and siphoned profits into his accounts. If trades resulted in losses, victim banks bore the financial impact. Through this scheme known as the "Coinbase scam," White amassed at least $210,000 in criminal proceeds.

In addition to his prison term, White faces a five-year supervised release with conditions including drug testing and credit restrictions upon release. He is ordered to pay $35,334.10 in restitution to victims, a $210,000 money judgment, and $300 in special assessments.

Kristen Arieale Williams was convicted of various fraud offenses by a federal jury in November 2023 and sentenced to three years in federal prison with an order for victim restitution.

The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama.

The investigation involved several agencies: the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), USPS–Office of Inspector General (OIG), U.S. Secret Service (USSS), Mobile Police Department (MPD), Brewton Police Department (BPD), and U.S. Small Business Administration–Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG).

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Bodnar and Justin Roller prosecuted the cases on behalf of the United States.