Kevin P. Davidson, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama
A Montgomery woman has been sentenced on April 1 to ten years in federal prison for her involvement in a scheme involving stolen mail and bank fraud, according to Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson.
The case highlights the significant financial impact of coordinated schemes targeting the banking system through stolen checks and fraudulent deposits. The sentencing underscores ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to address such crimes.
Rhashema Shackleford, age 37, received a sentence of 120 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. In addition, the court ordered her to pay $376,679.95 as part of a money judgment. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records and Shackleford's plea agreement, she participated with multiple co-conspirators between August 2022 and June 2023 to steal mail in Montgomery, Alabama. She worked with Laportia Webster and Otis Daniels to obtain checks from the mail, alter them or create counterfeit checks for deposit into various bank accounts. Between August 26, 2022 and January 20, 2023, Shackleford conspired with Webster using Webster’s accounts for about $114,311.50 in fraudulent deposits. With Daniels between December 29, 2022 and February 7, 2023, they used his accounts for approximately $264,368.16 in fraudulent transactions.
Investigators found that Shackleford obtained three cashier’s checks totaling $64,000 from these activities. On March 31, she deposited a check worth $12,480.29 drawn on a business victim’s account; later that year agents searching her residence found stolen checks and identification documents used for fraud.
Shackleford pleaded guilty on September 18 last year to conspiracy charges related to bank and mail fraud. Her co-conspirator Daniels was previously sentenced to just over two years in prison; Webster is scheduled for sentencing on April 15.
