Lynn woman convicted on federal mail fraud charges

BOSTON – A Lynn woman was convicted late Friday night in federal court for committing numerous frauds using stolen mail and stolen identities in 2003 and 2004, according to the U.S. District Attorney’s Office.Esther Arias, 30, formerly of 100 New Park St., Lynn, was convicted by a jury sitting before U.S. Chief District Judge Mark L. Wolf of conspiracy, 12 counts of possession of stolen mail, two counts of bank fraud, 18 counts of mail fraud, three counts of theft of government property and one count of identity theft. Co-defendant Gladys Cabrera pleaded guilty in the case on April 25, 2007 and is awaiting sentencing.Prosecutors said during the 10-day trial that starting in 2003 and continuing until her arrest on Jan. 10, 2004, Arias engaged in a conspiracy with Cabrera to use mail stolen from houses in the Lynn area to obtain credit card account checks. The two used stolen checks to receive cash and make deposits to bank accounts, prosecutors said. They also allegedly obtained credit cards by fraud and charged credit purchases in the names of other persons without their knowledge. In addition, the evidence proved that Arias, assisted by Cabrera, fraudulently obtained HUD Section 8 benefits for apartments in Revere and Lynn.Judge Wolf scheduled sentencing for March 5, 2008. Arias faces up to five years imprisonment to be followed by two years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine on each of the Conspiracy, Mail Fraud and Theft of Mail charges. The Theft of Government Property (HUD) counts are each punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 and 2 years of supervised release. The Bank Fraud charges each carry a maximum punishment of 30 years in prison, a fine of $ 1 million and 3 years of supervised release.Arias was convicted in a separate jury trial Nov. 1, 2007, on charges of Conspiracy to File False Claims and 15 counts of False and Fraudulent Statements (federal tax returns). She is scheduled for sentencing in that case by U.S. District Judge Douglas P. Woodlock on Jan. 24, 2008.(The preceding information was provided by U.S. District Attorney Michael Sullivan’s Office in Boston.)