Updated: 2:00 PM EST December 11, 2020
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. A New York man who used to live in Newport News is facing prison time for stealing other people s mail to fraudulently open bank accounts.
Christopher A. Phillips, 25, from NY was sentenced to three years in prison for a mail fraud and identity theft scheme involving at least 12 victims. The victims of ID theft lived in Isle of Wight, Southampton and Sussex counties.
In a statement from the US Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger of the Eastern District of VA, it said the victims were unaware, while Phillips was stealing their mail using their personal information to open bank accounts and lines of credit in their name.
Man sentenced for mail fraud, identity theft
and last updated 2020-12-11 14:42:30-05
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. â Christopher A. Phillips, 25-year-old New York man who formerly resided in Newport News, was sentenced to three years in prison for a mail fraud and identity theft scheme.
According to a news release, court documents confirm that Phillips stole mail and used the victim s personal information to open new bank accounts and lines of credit in their name.
Officials said that Phillips also used techniques like following mail routes to retrieve access to new account information before his victims became aware.
Phillips then repeatedly purchased goods and services using the accounts he had opened in the victimsâ names, resulting in a total loss of approximately $35,000, according to the release.