Mail Bandit Bound For Prison

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. - (02/07/06) -- A local man pleaded guilty Friday tocharged he broke into a mail box then used checks he stole to passcounterfeit checks on area banks and credit unions. Ralph Rileypleaded guilty to 13 counts of bank fraud and one count of stealingU.S. mails and faces up to 30 years in prison when he is sentenced.Riley's scheme was to deposit counterfeit checks in the amount of$3,000, then drain the accounts of $900 before the credit union orbank had a chance to detect the bogus checks, according to the U.S.Attorney's office in Iowa. Riley fashioned the checks so they wouldlike those drawn on legitimate members or customers of theinstitutions. Riley was charged with hitting Deere Harvester CU,I.H. Mississippi Valley CU and four local banks.