2008 Woodie Awards
Apartment mail fraud suspect pleads guilty
Alex Babcock
Issue date: 10/23/03 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
The former UCF graduate student charged with stealing mail and credit cards from students at the Pegasus Landing apartment complex pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of theft and possession of stolen mail. Yolanda Terrell Flournah could face up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and restitution up to $300,000.
"Whether she entered the agreement or not, she was facing prison time," said Ed Moffitt, a U.S. Postal Service inspector. "She's trying to minimize the time she'd have to spend in a facility."
Under the deal, prosecutors will drop the second count of credit card fraud.
The plea bargain ends a case in which Flournah originally had pleaded innocent. Magistrate Judge David A. Baker accepted the new plea.
Investigators this year charged Flournah with the crimes that they allege occurred while Flournah worked as a mail clerk at the complex, which was then called Knights Krossing.
Flournah pleaded guilty to charges that she stole mail, including applications from credit card companies. She filled out the applications and intercepted the cards when they arrived in the mail.
Moffitt said Flournah then used those cards to buy her boyfriend a car and take him out to dinner every night. He said she also purchased gifts for her family.
Flournah has returned some of the items she admitted to taking as part of restitution under the agreement.
U.S. Postal inspectors worked alongside the U.S. Secret Service and UCF Police to investigate and prosecute the crime.
"We assisted wherever possible," said Sgt. Troy Williamson of the UCF Police. "Pegasus Landing is part of UCF." Moffitt said the UCF Police helped track down a suspect.
Flournah stood accused of stealing about 2,000 pieces of mail from 715 victims. She was accused of taking 400 credit cards and committing fraud totaling $265,000 to $300,000.
Moffitt called the case "such a complete package for the prosecutor that the defendant really had no opportunity but to plead guilty."
The next phase in the case will be sentencing in January.
"Whether she entered the agreement or not, she was facing prison time," said Ed Moffitt, a U.S. Postal Service inspector. "She's trying to minimize the time she'd have to spend in a facility."
Under the deal, prosecutors will drop the second count of credit card fraud.
The plea bargain ends a case in which Flournah originally had pleaded innocent. Magistrate Judge David A. Baker accepted the new plea.
Investigators this year charged Flournah with the crimes that they allege occurred while Flournah worked as a mail clerk at the complex, which was then called Knights Krossing.
Flournah pleaded guilty to charges that she stole mail, including applications from credit card companies. She filled out the applications and intercepted the cards when they arrived in the mail.
Moffitt said Flournah then used those cards to buy her boyfriend a car and take him out to dinner every night. He said she also purchased gifts for her family.
Flournah has returned some of the items she admitted to taking as part of restitution under the agreement.
U.S. Postal inspectors worked alongside the U.S. Secret Service and UCF Police to investigate and prosecute the crime.
"We assisted wherever possible," said Sgt. Troy Williamson of the UCF Police. "Pegasus Landing is part of UCF." Moffitt said the UCF Police helped track down a suspect.
Flournah stood accused of stealing about 2,000 pieces of mail from 715 victims. She was accused of taking 400 credit cards and committing fraud totaling $265,000 to $300,000.
Moffitt called the case "such a complete package for the prosecutor that the defendant really had no opportunity but to plead guilty."
The next phase in the case will be sentencing in January.