Federal prosecutors in Anchorage said Tuesday the leader of a theft ring who exchanged methamphetamine for stolen mail has pleaded guilty to 16 drug dealing and fraud charges.
Jonathan Escalante, aka "Superman," recruited others to steal checks, credit cards and other personal information from mailboxes and vehicles, according to prosecutors.
"Escalante recruited his co-conspirators by providing them with methamphetamine and a portion of the items and cash obtained from the stolen checks and credit cards," Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Steward said in a news release.
The 45-year-old ringleader would use the stolen items to commit various kinds of fraud, including identity theft, prosecutors said.
The thefts started in September 2013 and continued for a year, prosecutors said. Escalante and four co-defendants stole more than $40,000 in cash and retail goods; people were victimized from Eagle River to as far south as Soldotna.
Law enforcement has had multiple run-ins with Escalante, who has three prior felony convictions for similar fraud crimes.
Prosecutors argued Escalante carried a firearm while selling meth around Anchorage. And he is accused of stealing a motorcycle and firing his gun to scare off pursuers in an ongoing state case.
Three co-defendants in the federal case have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. A fourth defendant is set to change her plea on April 7.
Escalante faces five to 40 years in prison for running the mail theft ring.