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Concord Man’s Serial Fraud Nets Him More Than Five Years In Federal Prison

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SAN FRANCISCO – Jason Blackard was sentenced today in United States District Court to 66 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, fraudulent use of unauthorized access devices, and attempted mail theft, announced United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Inspector in Charge Rafael Nuñez. Senior United States District Judge Maxine M. Chesney handed down the sentence.

Blackard, 38, of Concord, California, pleaded guilty on October 7, 2021. In his plea agreement, Blackard admitted committing a series of frauds and theft that continued from January 2019 through February 2021. On January 9, 2019, U.S. Postal Inspectors were surveilling a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mail “relay” box at the corner of Sacramento Street and Powell Street in San Francisco. The relay box had been the target of repeated thefts. While watching, they saw Blackard approach and open the box. Blackard was wearing a USPS hat and jacket and used a key belonging to USPS. Blackard admitted in his plea agreement that he intended to steal mail from the relay box.

Blackard further admitted in his plea agreement that he engaged in seven more crimes in the ensuing two years. Three of those crimes involved bank fraud in which Blackard stole other individuals’ identities, impersonated them, and opened loans and wrote checks to buy big ticket items using their names and accounts. Blackard admitted to fraudulently purchasing two automobiles and a new speedboat from dealerships in Chico, Ripon, and Vacaville. Blackard also admitted using stolen identities to buy thousands of dollars in merchandise from large retailers in Walnut Creek, Redding, and Chico.

In a memo filed for sentencing, the government detailed that Blackard’s fraud involved buying a $58,000 Toyota sportscar, a $98,000 speedboat and trailer, a $30,000 Mercedes automobile, $9,000 in goods from a high-end clothes retailer, $67,000 in goods from a big box hardware store, and $9,000 in goods from a tractor supply retailer. Blackard’s crimes continued even after law enforcement executed a search warrant on his home in July 2020 and persisted until law enforcement arrested him in February 2021.

Blackard’s fraud and theft caused losses in excess of $134,000 to identifiable banks, retailers, and individuals. In his plea agreement, Blackard agreed that the total intended losses to his victims exceeded $250,000.

In addition to imposing a 66 month prison term, Senior United States District Judge Maxine M. Chesney sentenced Blackard to a three year term of supervision upon his release from prison and ordered him to pay $134,908.32 in restitution to his victims.

Blackard was in custody at his sentencing hearing and begins his sentence immediately.

6 COMMENTS

  1. If you are inclined to enrich yourself through a fraudulent scheme, do not to use the proceeds to purchase registered vehicles you intend to keep or recorded real property. Doing so gives investigators a paper trial on a silver platter. Also, avoid schemes involving or making use of the mail, interstate couriers or electronic communication infrastructure. (Not legal advice!)

    Why? Because doing so is generally a FEDERAL offense.

    Federal crimes typically entail longer prison terms, mandatory minimum sentences, and parole is not available. (Club Fed facilities are, however, typically more sanitary, orderly and less violent than state penitentiaries.)

    Moreover, federal law enforcement agencies do not need to triage resources, and federal investigators are more educated and tenacious than local detectives. Once they decide to look under the hood, they effectively have unlimited resources to keep digging until they find colorable evidence of your shenanigans. The probability of a procedural lapse leading to a legal technicality in your favor is much lower at the DOJ than a chaotic downtown DA’s office.

  2. Mr. Jones – The DOJ for the SDNY earned its reputation for vigorously investigating and prosecuting sophisticated financial fraud, transnational terrorist and smuggling networks and organized crime rackets. Why do you think the investigations into and indictments against Galleon Group conspirators, Al-Qaeda, the Sinaloa Cartel and Gambino Crime Family were tainted with political animus?

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