Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Standing guard ... City gears up for hearings on future growth ... Medford School District on the hunt for teachers ... Standing guard ... City gears up for hearings on future growth ... Medford School District on the hunt for teachers ... CRIME Counterfeit ringleader, co-conspirators sentenced Comment By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 4, 2015 at 6:02 PM By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 4, 2015 at 6:02 PM » Social News The ringleader of an identity theft and counterfeit check ring and two of his accomplices will spend at least four years in federal prison for their schemes that scammed several Southern Oregon businesses, banks and residents in late 2013. Ryan Juan Pitcher, 38, of Medford, was sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Medford to almost 10 years in prison for stealing mail and using information in it to steal people's identities and print bogus checks cashed at banks and businesses by him and others. Co-defendant Shawn Francis Farrell, 31, of Medford, was sentenced to five years for his role in the racket, and Logan Chad Clark, 25, of Rogue River, was sentenced to four years in federal prison. They were convicted on several charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, aggravated identity theft and possessing and passing counterfeit checks. When U.S. District Judge Owen Panner handed down the sentences Wednesday, he included consecutive two-year prison terms as required by federal statute when a victim's identification is possessed or used in committing bank fraud, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Two other co-defendants, 23-year-old Shayna Campos and 29-year-old Nathan David Meyer, are awaiting sentencing for their convictions in association with the case, federal officials said. A sixth defendant, identified as 23-year-old Cinnamon Danielle Duck, is awaiting trial. According to court documents, most of the crimes involved in the spree were conducted by Pitcher. He stole mail from postal collection boxes and mailboxes of residents and businesses in Jackson and Josephine counties, parlaying the purloined documents to assume victims' identities and opened bank accounts in their names, court documents state. Pitcher also printed fake payroll checks that he and his co-conspirators cashed at banks from Ashland to Grants Pass, according to court documents. The co-conspirators were paid with cash and drugs, documents state. The group was tripped up when Farrell was arrested while attempting to cash a counterfeit check in Grants Pass, documents state. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 541-776-4470 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/MTwriterFreeman . By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 4, 2015 at 6:02 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501