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Press Release

Inland Empire Siblings Plead Guilty To Stealing Of Hundreds Of Identities From Escrow Company And Fraudulently Obtaining Credit

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California

RIVERSIDE, California – A brother and sister from the Inland Empire have pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiring to steal identities of hundreds of would-be homeowners from North American Title Company and using those stolen identities to obtain credit cards from major national retailers.

Charlie Rickie Jackson III, 43, of Corona, and Bridgette Lenet Jackson, 45, of Riverside, both pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to commit access device fraud. Charlie Jackson also pled guilty to possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices (credit cards).

In late 2013, Bridgette Jackson was a temporary employee at North American Title Company’s office in Temecula, where she was responsible for processing escrow documents and copying loan documents. Simply put, Bridgette Jackson allowed Charlie Jackson to come and take documents from the office when no other employees were around. According to court documents, the Jacksons stole personal identifying information belonging to well over 250 would-be homebuyers that was found in the North American Title Company documents.

Using the would-be homeowners’ personal identification information – including social security numbers, dates of birth, and bank account numbers – Charlie Jackson opened credit card accounts from major national retailers, and he used the unauthorized access devices to purchase goods online. Jackson then pawned the purchased items in exchange for cash, netting him tens of thousands of dollars.

During the course of the investigation, Charlie Jackson twice was caught in possession of hundreds of stolen identities, according to his plea agreement. The first time, in February 2014, he had hundreds of title documents from North American Title Company, sensitive medical documents containing personal identifying information, and credit cards he opened in the names of victims. In July 2014 he was caught with scanned copies of the stolen North American Title Company documents as well as a spiral notebook with personal identification information of other victims.

North American Title Company provides real estate settlement services and is a subsidiary of Lennar Homes, a national home builder. Lennar Homes has sustained thousands of dollars in losses due to the payout claims for victim homebuyers who experienced identity theft due to the breach of the secure documents.

The Jacksons pleaded guilty yesterday before United States District Judge Jesus G. Bernal, who is scheduled to sentence both defendants on August 31.

As a result of their guilty pleas, Charlie Jackson faces a statutory maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and Bridgette Jackson faces a statutory maximum sentence of 5 years in federal prison

“Mr. Jackson’s activity paints a disturbing picture in which confidential information was compromised for personal greed at the expense of the public,” said Robert Wemyss, Postal Inspector in Charge of the Los Angeles Division. 

This investigation in this case was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service.

Release No. 15-061


Updated June 22, 2015