JACKSONVILLE – U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the return of an indictment charging Frank Anthony Acanda, 26, with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, eight counts of bank fraud, conspiracy to commit theft of mail and theft of mail. If convicted, Acanda faces as many as 30 years in federal prison for each count of bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud, up to five years for the theft of mail and conspiracy to commit theft of mail count, and payment of restitution to the victims he and his co-defendant, Jonathan Benavide Hidalgo, defrauded.

According to the indictment, Acanda and Hidalgo and others drove around areas of Fleming Island, Jacksonville and St. Augustine and stole large volumes of mail from residential and business mailboxes over several months. After opening the mail and stealing checks and money orders, Acanda, Hidalgo and others acting on their behalf, deposited the items into bank accounts they controlled and used ATMs to withdraw the cash. In some instances, the co-defendants altered the stolen checks by increasing the amount of the stolen checks to maximize the amount of money they could withdraw from ATMs.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.          

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Jacksonville Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin C. Frein will prosecute it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer M. Harrington is handling the asset forfeiture.