A Mobile man was sentenced to three years in prison for involvement in an elaborate check-stealing scheme that included falsifying identification documents and making unlawful deposits, transfers and withdrawals.

Jonathan Taylor Randle, 32, pleaded guilty to defrauding numerous banks and credit unions between October 2022 and May 2023, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Alabama.

The scheme was uncovered beginning in March 2023, when federal agents first started getting complaints about someone “fishing” mail from U.S. postal collection boxes using a tool covered in rat trap glue. Agents recovered some of the “fishing” devices from tubs inside postal collection boxes at post offices in Mobile, and Escatawpa, Miss. A fingerprint examiner found Randle’s fingerprints on the devices.

In April 2023, Randle deposited several forged checks bearing identifiers of mail-theft victims at Regions Bank ATMs in the Mobile area. Surveillance cameras then captured Randle making the fraudulent deposits, according to the release.

In May 2023, agents searched Randle’s house in Mobile and seized hundreds of checks and pieces of stolen mail, fraudulent identifications bear Randle’s picture and stolen identifying information, multiple debit/credit cards in the names of other people, a laptop, a notebook containing stolen ID information, and a rifle. Agents also seized Randle’s cell phone, which contained evidence of his fraud scheme.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Secret Service and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.

In addition to the prison sentence, Randle was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William Steele to serve a five-year term of supervised release after he leaves prison. Randle will be subject to credit restrictions, undergo drug testing and receive mental health treatment. He will also be required to pay $33,042.95 in victim restitution and $200 in special assessments.