PHOENIX — Two defendants have been sentenced to prison for breaking into hundreds of mailboxes in Arizona and Colorado to steal documents that could help them to fraudulently obtain pandemic-related benefits, officials said.
Daniel Lucero, 34, and Makallyn Hunt, 22, have both pleaded guilty to offenses connected to a scam that allowed them to collect government funds reserved for citizens who lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lucero and Hunt applied for the relief funds by using information they stole out of personal mailboxes, according to the Arizona Attorney General's Office.
By the time they were caught, the defendants were found to be in possession of several prepaid debit cards and thousands of personal identifying records.
The AG's Office said the defendants have been ordered to pay $181,746 in restitution to the state Department of Economic Security.
"The victims in this investigation included hundreds of elderly individuals unaware that their identities were used to apply for federally funded state assistance monies," the AG's office wrote in a statement.
Lucero was sentenced to seven years in the Arizona Department of Corrections and Hunt got 1.5 years in prison. Each defendant had pleaded guilty to theft and aggravated identity theft.
Up to Speed
Catch up on the latest news and stories on our 12News YouTube playlist here.
More ways to get 12News
On your phone: Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone.
On your streaming device: Download 12News+ to your streaming device
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
We are committed to serving all of the Valley's communities, because we live here, too.
12News is the Official Home of the Arizona Cardinals and the proud recipient of the 2018 Rocky Mountain Emmy Award for Overall Excellence.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.