Two of three defendants in a Lubbock identity theft scheme were sentenced last week to prison time.
Hank Lindal Morgan, 35, of Lubbock, pleaded guilty in November to possessing forged securities. Julie Ana Castillo, 34, of Lubbock pleaded guilty in November to aggravated identity theft, and Talissa Marie Pierce, 26, of Anton pleaded guilty in November to a conspiracy charge.
Morgan was sentenced to six months, and Castillo was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison. Morgan was ordered to pay $4,092.91 in restitution and Castillo was ordered to pay $16,392.36.
Sentencing for Pierce was still pending Monday.
Court records said in December of 2014 police were called to a store in the 2700 block of 26th Street for the report of a forgery to which Morgan later confessed.
Court records said, “Morgan acted, together with codefendants Julia Ana Castillo, Talissa Pierce, and other involved persons, to execute a scheme to steal U.S. mail…”
Morgan admitted to altering checks that were stolen in the mail and cashing them at local businesses, according to court records.
Castillo, among other things, applied for a $5,000 loan online in someone else’s name.
Pierce admits that she tried – but failed – to cash a stolen check that Castillo altered. Pierce also admits she cashed four altered checks on behalf of Castillo and gave her the money.
All three were held in the Lubbock County Detention Center on Monday.
In an unrelated case, Rachel Perry was sentenced last week to 16 months in federal prison for fraud. Court records said she was stopped by Seagraves Police. An officer discovered that Perry had blank checks, several sheets of paper with other people’s credit card information, fake driver licenses, and a credit card embossing machine.
