Collinsville man admits to mail fraud, identity theft

A Collinsville man accused of using the personal information of others to apply for credit cards in order to make purchases pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and identity theft Friday, Southern Illinois U.S. Attorney Stephen Wigginton’s office announced.

Jeffrey C. Brown, 35, admitted to stealing mail from other people’s mail boxes and then using personal information found in the mail to apply for credit cards. Brown and an accomplice, whose identity was not released, then took delivery of items purchased with the cards. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

Brown could face up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and probation. He had been held in custody without bail since before his trial because he cut off a GPS tracking device he was wearing at the orders of the court.

Sentencing for Brown is scheduled for Nov. 17.

This story was originally published July 31, 2015 at 4:14 PM with the headline "Collinsville man admits to mail fraud, identity theft."