A dozen people sentenced in postal fraud scheme

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A dozen men and women from the Spartanburg area have been sentenced for a scheme to steal nearly $2 million through check fraud.

The U.S. attorney’s office says the sentences handed down earlier this week range from probation to nearly five years in prison. The defendants also must pay restitution.

U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles says the group recruited people to get fake IDs and open checking accounts with minimal money. The recruits were taken shopping where checks were used to buy expensive items. The recruits were told to report their checkbooks stolen. The items were resold and the profits shared.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Watkins says the scheme started in 2005.

Hope Serena Mitchell and other members of the group pleaded guilty in April.