CAMDEN, N.J. – A former Salem County man admitted his involvement in a scheme to steal checks from the mail and defraud banks, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced Friday.
Dezhon McCrae, 25, formerly of Penns Grove, pleaded guilty to multiple charges in Camden federal court, including conspiracy to commit bank fraud, possession of stolen mail, and aggravated identity theft. McCrae’s plea relates to a series of schemes that defrauded banks and involved the theft of postal mailbox keys and other criminal acts, according to court documents.
From May 2018 to February 2020, McCrae participated in a “card cracking” conspiracy, where stolen checks were used to create counterfeit checks for deposit into local banks. Authorities said McCrae’s role contributed to over $10,000 in losses from a total fraud of more than $274,000 across various victim banks.
After being charged for the first scheme, McCrae engaged in a second similar fraud from May 2022 to July 2022, causing another $14,000 in losses. Police investigations later revealed additional criminal conduct, including possession of stolen mail and attempts to rob postal workers in New Jersey.
