Lafiamma Orona, 33, of Elkhart, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of stolen mail, mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Orona must serve two years on probation following his release from prison.

According to court documents, Orona stole mail from mailboxes near Elkhart, Ind., during the spring of 2020. The mail included checks, checkbooks, debit and credit cards, and personal information of victims. Orona then forged checks, used the victims’ credit and debit cards, and opened new credit card accounts using the victims’ stolen information.

Orona was found in Bristol, Ind., in May 2020. He was found to be driving the same car he drove when stealing mail. Inside the car, police found fake drivers’ licenses using Orona’s own photo and the victims’ names, stolen checks and checkbooks, and other stolen mail.

Police searched a home in Michigan where Orona was staying and found more stolen mail, stolen checks and checkbooks, a printer with more fake drivers’ licenses, tools for forging checks, notebooks with victims’ stolen information, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia.

In total, Orona had stolen items and checks valued at more than $226,000, stolen mail from approximately 46 people, and the personal information of approximately 253 people.