Osage Beach woman pleads guilty in federal court to fraud, stolen mail

An Osage Beach woman has pleaded guilty in federal court to a scheme to use stolen mail and stolen identities to cash fraudulent checks.

Chrystal Lynn Bernstein, 27, of Osage Beach, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft on Tuesday.

Bernstein admitted that she engaged in a scheme to obtain stolen mail (including checks), then use stolen identities to cash and deposit the checks at several banks in Boone and Camden Counties from December 2016 to Feb. 16, 2017.

Bernstein collected a total of $13,947.

Bernstein was arrested during a traffic stop on Feb. 1 in Lake Ozark. She had a driver’s license, Social Security card and credit card under another person’s name. Bernstein was able to bond out and was released.

On Feb. 16, 2017, Bernstein attempted to cash a check at Central Bank and was arrested as she returned to her home, driving a vehicle with a reported stolen license plate.

Bernstein could face up to 30 years in federal prison without parole.