A Fayetteville man has admitted to orchestrating a bank fraud scheme involving checks stolen from a Macon mail collection box, which he would then sell online. Keyon Ponder, 28, has pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal on March 24. If convicted, Ponder could face a maximum sentence of 30 years imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release and a possible fine of up to $1 million. Sentencing is yet to be scheduled, as there is no provision for parole in the federal system.
“Keyon Ponder’s stolen check scheme defrauded citizens and businesses alike, a crime that will ultimately cost him years in prison,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker. She commended the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigators for their swift response to theft reports, which helped prevent further fraud and hold Ponder accountable.
The investigation commenced on May 29, 2024, when the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) began looking into mail theft and bank fraud after numerous reports of mail stolen from a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Blue Box near the Macon Post Office. Inspectors discovered a homemade “trap” designed to stop mail from dropping into the box, allowing for easy theft.
A USPS employee reported a suspicious vehicle, a black Tesla, loitering near the Blue Box. On May 31, 2024, authorities observed Ponder using the trap to access stolen mail. He was apprehended with 52 pieces of stolen mail, including 42 checks totaling more than $20,000. Further searches revealed 17 more checks and a USPS Postal Money Order hidden in the Monroe County Jail, amounting to over $75,000.
A federal warrant search of Ponder's cell phones uncovered a sophisticated fraud scheme involving the sale of stolen checks on Telegram, a social media platform. Ponder's phone contained over 500 images of stolen checks and records of transactions. He admitted to knowing the checks were stolen and distributing them.
The investigation and arrest resulted from collaboration between the USPIS and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Howard prosecuting the case for the government. Jessica L. Wagner, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division, praised the investigative efforts and emphasized the continued vigilance to protect the nation's mail system from criminal misuse.
