Man sentenced for stealing mail and over $226K from over 46 victims

ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. -- A man who stole mail including checks, checkbooks, debit and credit cards from 46 Elkhart residents was sentenced to 9 years in federal prison for possession of stolen mail, mail fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

Lafiamma Orona, 33, also sentenced for felon in possession of a firearm. Once released, he must serve 2 years supervised release.

In the spring of 2020, Orona stole mail including checks, checkbooks, debit and credit cards and personal information of the victims.

Orona then forged checks, used the victims' debit and credit cards and opened new credit card accounts in the victim's names, court records said.

A description of the suspect's car was released in May 2020. On May 6, a traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle and Orona was identified as the driver.

Investigators say he had fake driver's licenses with his photo and victims' names, stolen checks, stolen checkbooks and other stolen mail items, reports said.

He also had an empty handgun holster. On the road near his vehicle, police located a loaded handgun that was thrown from the car, police said.

On May 7, Orona's residence in Michigan was searched. Police found more stolen mail, stolen checks and checkbooks, a printer with more fake drivers' license, tools for forging checks, notebooks with personal information of the victims, ammunition and narcotics paraphernalia, according to court records.

Court records show Orona stole items and checks valued at more than $226,000, stolen mail from approximately 46 victims, and the personal information of approximately 253 people.