A Richmond County man has been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and possession of a firearm. Earl Demetrius Overton, 32, of Augusta, Georgia, received an 84-month sentence. U.S. District Court Judge J. Randall Hall also ordered Overton to pay a $2,000 fine and $300 in special assessments, along with three years of supervised release following his imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and statements made during sentencing, Overton obtained a U.S. Postal Service collection key and used it to steal mail from collection boxes in the Augusta area. He targeted business checks, altered them, deposited the fraudulent checks into bank accounts, and withdrew funds before banks detected the fraud. Authorities say he attempted to steal more than $400,000 through this scheme. When apprehended, Overton was found with a firearm—a violation due to his status as a felon—along with a loaded magazine, stolen checks, cash, financial documents, and debit cards.
“There were hundreds of citizens of this District who were victimized by the Defendant’s conduct. Our District is committed to protecting and defending the nation’s mail system from illegal use. With the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners, fraudsters who use the mail to steal will be brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to safeguard the U.S. Mail.”
“The sentencing of this defendant sends a clear message to anyone who decides to exploit the mail system for their own personal profit,” said Rodney M. Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to work tirelessly to hold accountable those individuals who engage in fraudulent activity and demonstrate no regard for the financial impact that their crimes have on victims.”
“By using a U.S. Postal Service key to steal mail, forge checks, and commit identity theft, Overton jeopardized the safety and financial security of countless victims,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This sentence serves as a reminder that the FBI will not tolerate criminal conduct, particularly when it involves someone in a position of trust defrauding individuals and institutions using stolen government property.”
“We will not tolerate those who victimize our community through crimes like these. The citizens of Richmond County deserve to feel secure, and we will continue working closely with our federal partners to ensure that offenders are held fully accountable. We are grateful for the collaboration that brought justice in this case and for the support provided to those who suffered because of this individual’s actions.” – Sheriff Eugene Brantley
The investigation was conducted by multiple agencies including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, FBI Atlanta Division https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/atlanta/about , and Richmond County Sheriff’s Office https://www.richmondcountysheriffsoffice.com/ . First Assistant United States Attorney David H. Estes prosecuted the case.
