Rayville man pleads guilty to mail fraud

United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Ronald W. Reeves, 68, of Rayville, pleaded guilty Friday before U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty to two counts of mail fraud for his role in a scheme to steal nearly $400,000.

According to the guilty plea, Reeves conspired with others from April 2014 to April 2017 to fraudulently divert mail from the intended recipients to himself in order to obtain checks, credit cards and identifying information of the victims. 

Through this process, Reeves obtained multiple checks as well as 292 credit cards, debit cards and prepaid debit cards. Additionally, Reeves maintained multiple bank accounts that he and others used to deposit money that belonged to the victims. 

These funds included checks made payable to other people and fraudulently obtained tax refund deposit checks from the U.S. Treasury, totaling more than $247,888. 

Reeves and others attempted to steal a total of $397,409 during the course of the scheme.

Reeves faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine for each count. 

The court set the sentencing date for August 7.

The IRS and U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian C. Flanagan and Seth D. Reeg are prosecuting the case.