Three defendants from Foley were sentenced for their roles in various drug, fraud, and identity theft crimes.
According to court documents, Zachary Heaton Thaggard, 32, Randall Lee Cahoon, 45, and Cheryl Ann Morgan, 73, pleaded guilty to various crimes, including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, bank fraud conspiracy, and aggravated identity theft.
Between February 2022 and November 2023, Thaggard, Cahoon, and Morgan conspired with each other and other people to steal checks and personal identifying information from the mail.
Thereafter, the defendants used the stolen materials to commit numerous fraudulent bank transactions. For example, in February 2022, Morgan cashed a counterfeit and forged check stolen from the mail at a check-cashing business in Robertsdale.
In January 2023, police recovered counterfeit checks made payable to Thaggard, which Thaggard had left behind in a gas station in Loxley.
In October 2023, Cahoon conducted fraudulent check transactions at a credit union in Foley. Agents thereafter arrested Cahoon in possession of counterfeit checks, stolen debit and credit cards, blank check stock, counterfeit money, drugs, and drug paraphernalia.
Investigators seized and searched Cahoon’s cell phone, which contained text messages and other evidence of the defendants’ fraud scheme.
In November 2023, narcotics agents arrested Thaggard and a coconspirator in Atmore. Agents located and seized half a kilogram of fentanyl in Thaggard’s vehicle. Thaggard confessed to his role in the drug trafficking and fraud conspiracies to which he pleaded guilty. Agents also seized and searched Thaggard’s cell phone, which contained text messages and other evidence of his crimes.
United States District Judge Kristi K. DuBose sentenced Thaggard to serve 30 months in prison and a five-year term of supervised release, during which time Thaggard will be subject to drug testing and treatment and will receive mental health evaluation and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge DuBose ordered Thaggard to pay $300 in special assessments.
Chief United States District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock sentenced Cahoon to serve 75 months in prison and a five-year term of supervised release, during which time Cahoon will be subject to drug testing and treatment, and credit restrictions.
Chief Judge Beaverstock sentenced Morgan to time served and a three-year term of supervised release, during which time Morgan will be subject to credit restrictions. The court did not impose fines, but Chief Judge Beaverstock ordered Cahoon to pay $2,468.80 in victim restitution and $200 in special assessments and Morgan to pay $350 in victim restitution and $100 in special assessments.
