CHICAGO — 5 former U.S. Postal Service workers are amongst 11 people charged with conspiring to steal bank cards and different monetary devices from the mail.
This case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the U.S. Postal Service’s Workplace of the Inspector Common (USPS-OIG).
Federal authorities uncovered the 18-month conspiracy via a joint investigation titled Operation Money on Supply. The previous USPS workers, who on the time labored as mail carriers within the Chicagoland space, are alleged to have stolen bank cards and different monetary devices from the mail and offered them to co-conspirators in change for money or different gadgets, in accordance with a 20-count indictment unsealed Thursday in federal courtroom in Chicago.
Two of the defendants unlawfully obtained USPS prospects’ private figuring out data, together with dates of beginning and Social Safety numbers, which was then used to fraudulently activate the stolen bank cards and make purchases at varied retailers, together with Finest Purchase, Fry’s Electronics, Walmart and Meijer, the fees allege.
Many of the defendants had been arrested Thursday and have begun making preliminary appearances in federal courtroom in Chicago.
“The actions taken on this case exhibit our dedication to defending our communities from legal enterprises searching for to steal identities and defraud trustworthy, hard-working individuals,” stated performing Particular Agent in Cost R. Sean Fitzgerald of HSI Chicago. “HSI is happy with the work we’ve completed with our regulation enforcement companions on this investigation.”
“Postal Inspectors are dedicated to making sure the general public’s belief within the U.S. Mail system,” stated Inspector-in-Cost William Hedrick of USPIS Chicago. “The U.S. Postal Service depends on its workers to carry out their duties with honor and delight. Postal Inspectors, together with our federal companions, bear the burden of holding accountable these people who compromise the safety of the U.S. mail on the expense of the general public. Moreover, this investigation goals to revive the integrity of the mail and ship justice to the victims of these arrested at present.”
“These arrests characterize our dedication to work with our regulation enforcement companions to take care of the integrity and belief within the U.S. mail,” stated Particular Agent in Cost Andre Martin of the USPS-OIG Chicago Nice Lakes Space Area Workplace. “The vast majority of postal workers are hard-working public servants devoted to transferring mail to its correct vacation spot. Sadly, these arrested determined to betray the general public’s belief and steal mail from postal prospects. The USPS OIG, together with the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace, stay dedicated to safeguarding the integrity of the U.S. mail and making certain the accountability and integrity of U.S. Postal Service workers.”
Charged with conspiring to steal mail and commit unauthorized entry gadget fraud are the next former USPS workers:
- Rebecca Okunoren, 28, of Chicago,
- Jessica Jefferson, 32, of Broadview, Illinois,
- Monique D. Love, 29, of Chicago,
- Myiesha Weaver, 34, of Faculty Park, Georgia, and
- Dominique Sykes, 28, of Chicago.
Additionally charged within the conspiracy are:
- Davey Hines, 28, of Naperville, Illinois,
- Billye Harris, 26, of Harvey, Illinois,
- Terrance Scales, 29, of Chicago,
- Stephon Johnson, 33, of Alsip, Illinois,
- Loreal Ross, 31, of Chicago, and
- Brittnay P. Shepard, 28, of Chicago.
Hines, Harris, Johnson, and Ross additionally face prices of unauthorized entry gadget fraud and aggravated identification theft.
This federal investigation beforehand resulted in prices final summer season in opposition to 5 different people, together with 4 different former USPS workers.
The indictment and arrests had been introduced by U.S. Lawyer for the Northern District of Illinois John R. Lausch, Jr. The federal government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shy Jackson and Paige Nutini, and Particular Assistant U.S. Lawyer Peter Madrinan.
The general public is reminded that an indictment accommodates allegations solely and isn’t proof of guilt. The defendants are presumed harmless and entitled to a good trial at which the federal government has the burden of proving guilt past an affordable doubt. If convicted, the Court docket should impose an affordable sentence below federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Tips.
