Jessica Bailey Sowell, a 32-year-old resident of Charlotte, has been sentenced to 57 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. The sentencing was announced by Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Sowell’s charges include bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and unlawful possession of a firearm. She is also required to pay restitution amounting to $47,190.25.
The announcement was supported by Jason Byrnes, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service’s Charlotte Field Office, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD).
Court records reveal that between March 2023 and February 2024, Sowell orchestrated an identity theft and bank fraud scheme using stolen personal identifying information (PII) from various sources such as stolen mail and the internet. This information was used to create fraudulent identification documents which enabled her to obtain money and merchandise from banks, hotels, and retail stores. Law enforcement discovered letters, bank cards, and checks belonging to at least 26 victims in her possession.
A federal search warrant executed at Sowell’s hotel room uncovered two suitcases: one containing hundreds of pieces of mail with different names and addresses; another filled with store-tagged merchandise. Additionally found were journals with names and credit details of multiple individuals; 23 driver’s licenses featuring Sowell’s photograph but bearing PII from identity theft victims; a Taurus G3 9mm handgun decorated with sequins on the barrel; an identity card printer; blank identity cards; holographic stickers; a credit card under an ID theft victim’s name; receipts for purchases made with this card.
Sowell has previous convictions including a 2021 federal aggravated identity theft conviction and a 2015 state felony conviction for possession with intent to distribute MDA/MDMA which legally prohibits her from possessing firearms.
On August 5, 2024, she pleaded guilty to charges including bank fraud and aiding and abetting aggravated identity theft as well as possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Currently held by the U.S. Marshals Service pending transferal into Federal Bureau of Prisons custody upon facility designation.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Secret Service along with CMPD aided by both U.S Postal Inspection Service & Bureau Alcohol Tobacco Firearms Explosives agencies while Assistant U.S Attorney Michael E Savage prosecuted this case out Charlotte office.
