From Staff Reports

COLUMBIANA – An Atlanta man who pleaded guilty to targeting businesses off U.S. 280 for attempted identity theft has been sentenced to 115 months, or about nine and a half years, in prison.

Jemarcus Demetrius Acholes, 23, was sentenced in District/Circuit Court of Shelby County on five counts of identity theft and one count of receiving stolen property.

Acholes was one of three people arrested Feb. 9 after Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Deputies initiated a traffic stop on their vehicle for a moving violation.

“During their initial contact with the driver and two passengers, deputies observed a large collection of U.S. mail, some of which contained business checks,” a press release from SCSO read. “After investigating further, patrol deputies identified multiple pieces of U.S. mail from local businesses along the Highway 280 corridor that were suspected to be unlawfully in the possession of the vehicle’s occupants.”

According to the SCSO, the three suspects were originally arrested on charges of receiving stolen property. However, after further investigation in conjunction with the U.S. Postal Inspectors, the suspects were each charged with five counts of identity theft and one count of second degree receiving stolen property.

The other suspects were Nikkia Nichole Huff, 31, and Daniel Verick Reed, 26, both of which are also of Atlanta.