Texas man admits stealing checks from mailboxes in Harrison County

GULFPORT -- A Texas man has admitted his role in the theft of checks from mailboxes in Harrison County and using stolen identities on counterfeit checks for purchases at Wal-Mart stores.

David Elliot Burney, 47, of Granbury, Texas, is one of four Texans being prosecuted in federal court in Gulfport for crimes committed between Oct. 4, 2013, and Nov. 18, 2014. An arrest warrant has been issued for a fifth defendant.

Burney pleaded guilty Friday to conspiracy to commit mail theft and identity theft. He stole mail between Oct. 4, 2013, and Nov. 6, 2013, and went to the Biloxi Wal-Mart with counterfeit checks twice in one day, the indictment said.

Burney faces up to five years in prison plus restitution and a fine of up to $250,000.

U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden will sentence Burney on April 1.

An indictment filed in May said the defendants used the victims' names and bank routing numbers to make bogus checks. The checks were used at Wal-Mart stores for purchases including electronics, gift cards, prepaid credit cards, food and clothes. The checks also were used in Pass Christian and Crowley, Texas.

Two other defendants also have pleaded guilty.

Megan Murley, 27, of Marlin, Texas, was ordered to help make restitution of $10,513.50 at her sentencing Nov. 30. Ozerden ordered her to repay one person $121.84 and said she owes Keesler Federal Credit Union $10,063.71 and she owes Wal-Mart Corporate Headquarters $327.91.

Ozerden gave Murley credit for time served since her arrest in June and ordered three years of post-release supervision.

Charles "Cody Blue" Slaton, 47, of Granbury, Texas, must help Murley repay more than $9,600 of the restitution amount, Ozerden said in Murley's sentencing order.

Slaton will be sentenced Jan. 26. He has been in custody since his arrest in August.

Joe Gonzales, 36, of Fort Worth, Texas, is set for trial on a court calendar that starts Jan. 4. He is free on a $10,000 unsecured bond. Ozerden ordered Gonzales' travel restricted to Kansas and to South Mississippi for court appearances.

Court records show the judge has extended Gonzales' plea deadline. If he plans to change his plea, he must notify the court by Dec. 29. A pre-trial hearing is set for the same day.

This story was originally published December 14, 2015 at 2:52 PM with the headline "Texas man admits stealing checks from mailboxes in Harrison County ."