Charlotte woman accused of stealing identities through mail pleads guilty

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte woman pleaded guilty on Wednesday to bank fraud in a multistate identity theft case.

Prosecutors say Charles Morgan Harrell, 58, stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from residents and banks across three states, beginning around January 2020 and continuing through at least February 2021. She operated the bank fraud scheme in and around Charlotte, and also in Georgia and Virginia.

Harrell allegedly stole mail from streets in South Park, including Greencastle Drive and Honors Court.

Sandy Benjamin believes she stole from his mailbox. “We got a couple late notices on our accounts and we never received that mail,” Benjamin told Action 9′s Jason Stoogenke.

Fortunately, he does not think anyone stole his identity.

Prosecutors say Harrell used people’s personal information to make fake identification documents such as drivers’ licenses and used them to open bank accounts at Bank of America, Fifth Third and Truist.

Prosecutors also claim she opened mail looking for checks. Then she would alter them and deposit them into those new accounts.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office told Stoogenke there were at least 10 victims and that Harrell stole more than $150,000.

Harrell faces up to 30 years in prison.

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Deputies arrest duo for stealing mail from nearly 2,000 people in the Carolinas

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