Two siblings from the St. Louis area, Alexandria Collins and Wayne M. Collins, have been sentenced to prison for their roles in aggravated identity theft and fraud schemes. U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark handed down the sentences on Thursday, with Alexandria Collins receiving 146 months in prison and Wayne Collins receiving 141 months. In addition to their prison terms, Alexandria Collins was ordered to pay $449,984 in restitution, while Wayne Collins must pay $134,519.
Wayne Collins was already on supervised release following a 2018 conviction for aiding and abetting the theft of a firearm from a licensed gun dealer when authorities discovered new evidence of criminal activity during a search of his residence in 2023. The search uncovered a phone previously owned by his sister that contained evidence of identity theft and wire fraud, including a counterfeit driver’s license with Wayne’s photo but another person’s identifying information. That stolen identity had been used to open a $6,300 credit account in June 2023. The phone also held evidence that Wayne had possessed and used bank checks stolen from the mail.
Further investigation revealed that Alexandria Collins had produced counterfeit identification documents and paystubs for multiple people, engaged in wire fraud to obtain vehicle loans using stolen identities, opened fraudulent credit accounts with retailers and cellphone companies, attempted to sell vehicles obtained through fraud at auction, facilitated LSD shipments via the U.S. Postal Service, and created fake financial documents for use in court proceedings.
Alexandria Collins had previously served 33 months in prison for an earlier fraud case and was ordered to pay $131,710 in restitution at that time. After her release on house arrest in September 2021, she lived with her boyfriend—himself a convicted felon—in a home rented under another stolen identity using falsified wage records. She misled her probation officer about the rental arrangement. The couple was eventually evicted owing nearly $37,000 for rent and damages before Alexandria moved into another home using yet another stolen identity.
In April 2022, Alexandria opened an account at a credit union under false pretenses of employment at a daycare center; over five months she deposited or transferred more than $40,000 linked to fraudulent auto loan schemes involving luxury vehicles such as a Porsche Panamera and Rolls Royce. She did not disclose these transactions or income sources to her probation officer.
After her boyfriend’s arrest later that year, Alexandria attempted to conceal his status from law enforcement by arranging for someone else to impersonate him during police inquiries related to child custody matters.
The siblings also worked with Oneasha Stevenson of Berkeley, Missouri—who received five years’ probation (later converted into 15 months’ imprisonment after violations)—to use stolen identities for purchasing vehicles and electronics.
Wayne Collins pleaded guilty earlier this year to aggravated identity theft as well as access device fraud; his sentence includes time both for current offenses and violation of previous supervised release conditions. Alexandria pleaded guilty to access device fraud, aggravated identity theft, and making false statements; her sentence includes additional time due to violating terms from her prior conviction.
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is charged with defending the nation’s mail system from illegal use. With the collaborative efforts of our federal and local law enforcement partners, Postal Inspectors investigate fraudsters who utilize the U.S. Mail to perpetuate financial schemes to defraud others in order to enrich themselves. Postal Inspectors seek justice for victims, including those most vulnerable,” said Inspector in Charge Ruth Mendonça of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service alongside state revenue investigators and federal probation officers; prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry.
