Source: Office of United States Attorneys
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Frank Anthony Acanda (26, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Acanda faces up to 30 years in federal prison and payment of restitution to the victims he and his co-defendant, Jonathan Benavide Hidalgo (26, Jacksonville), defrauded. A sentencing date has not been set.
According to court documents, for several months, Acanda, Hidalgo, and others drove around Fleming Island, Jacksonville, and St. Augustine and stole large volumes of mail from residential and business mailboxes. After opening the mail and stealing checks and money orders, Acanda, Hidalgo, and others acting on their behalf, deposited the items into bank accounts controlled by them and then used ATMs to immediately withdraw cash. In some instances, the co-defendants altered the stolen checks by increasing the amount of the checks to maximize the amount of money they could withdraw from ATMs.
Hidalgo is set for trial in August 2024.
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.
This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the United States Postal Inspection Service – Jacksonville Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein. The asset forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Harrington.