ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Nine people have been charged in connection with a fraud ring that operated in Buncombe County, following a five-month investigation by the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office.

Detectives identified Angela Queen and Wesley McCrary as the leaders of the scheme, which involved stealing checks from mailboxes, removing the ink in a process known as “washing,” and altering the payee names using a typewriter or rubber stamp.

The altered checks were then deposited or cashed, impacting individual residents and local businesses, authorities said.

Investigators recovered a significant amount of stolen mail, altered checks, and credit cards during the course of the investigation, the sheriff’s Office said in a statement released Wednesday.

Queen and McCrary were taken into custody June 4 in Marion with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Carolina Regional Fugitive Task Force. Seven additional individuals have also been charged for their roles in the scheme.

“Identity theft and fraud can have serious financial consequences for members of our community and may go unnoticed for a long time,” said Capt. Dustan Auldredge of BCSO District 1. “We encourage everyone to avoid leaving mail unattended or extended periods. Additionally, we recommend checking your credit reports and financial records regularly for any suspicious transactions.”

Those charged include:

Angela Queen is charged with:

  • 1 count of trafficking in stolen identities
  • 21 counts of identity theft
  • 13 counts of felony conspiracy
  • 2 counts of obtain property by false pretense
  • 33 counts of larceny of chose in action
  • 7 counts of uttering of a forged instrument
  • 9 counts of financial card theft
  • 8 counts of forgery of an instrument
  • 1 count of misdemeanor larceny
  • 3 counts of aid & abet forgery
  • 2 counts of second-degree trespass
  • 1 count of financial card fraud
  • 1 count of conspiracy to trafficking in stolen identities

Wesley McCrary is charged with:

  • 1 count of trafficking in stolen identities
  • 1 count of conspire to trafficking in stolen identities
  • 31 counts of larceny of chose in action
  • 1 count of attempt to obtain property by false pretenses
  • 1 count of attempted uttering
  • 5 counts of obtain property by false pretense
  • 5 counts of uttering a forged instrument
  • 4 counts of misdemeanor larceny
  • 22 counts of identity theft
  • 7 counts of financial card theft
  • 9 counts of forgery of an instrument

Allison Wilson is charged with:

  • 1 count of forgery of instrument
  • 1 count of Uttering Forged Instrument
  • 1 count of obtain property by false pretense

Billi Jo Mizelle is charged with:

  • 2 counts of forgery of instrument
  • 1 count of misdemeanor larceny
  • 1 count of obtain property false pretense
  • 1 count of uttering forged instrument

Brittany Payton has active warrants for:

  • 1 count of forgery of instrument
  • 1 count of obtain property by false pretense
  • 1 count of uttering forged instrument

Meagan Camp is charged with:

  • 1 count of identity theft
  • 1 count of uttering forged instrument
  • 1 count of obtain property by false pretense
  • 1 count of larceny of chose in action
  • 1 count of felony conspiracy

Helen Lindsey has active warrants for:

  • 2 counts of forgery of instrument
  • 2 counts of uttering forged instrument
  • 1 count of obtain property by false pretense
  • 1 count of felony conspiracy

Raquis Mills is charged with:

  • 4 counts of felony conspiracy

Krystle Hall has active warrants for:

  • 2 counts of obtain property by false pretense
  • 2 counts of uttering forged instrument
  • 2 counts of forgery of instrument