U.S. postal employees arrested in $1.3M fraud, identification theft scheme

Oct. 3 (UPI) — Three U.S. postal employees, in New York and New Jersey, have been arrested for allegedly stealing bank cards from the mail in a conspiracy to purchase luxurious gadgets to promote on-line, in accordance with the Division of Justice.

The division introduced the arrests of three postal employees, and a fourth particular person, in reference to a 4-year, $1.3 million fraud and identification theft scheme, in accordance with a federal indictment unsealed in New York.

“As alleged, the defendants engaged in a years-long scheme to govern bank card firms and main retailers throughout New York and New Jersey by stealing bank cards and utilizing these playing cards to buy, and subsequently promote, luxurious items,” U.S. Legal professional Damian Williams said in a statement Thursday.

“The defendants took benefit of the general public belief we place in U.S. Postal Service workers for their very own monetary achieve.”

U.S. postal employees Nathanael Foucault, Johnathan Persaud, Fabiola Mompoint and civilian Devon Richards, along with 5 different individuals who haven’t been arrested, face prices that embrace Conspiracy to Commit Entry System Fraud, Entry System Fraud and Aggravated Identification Theft prices. Every face prolonged jail sentences if convicted.

“These 9 defendants, three of that are postal workers, sought to complement themselves by stealing mail straight from a whole bunch of postal clients,” U.S. Postal Inspection Service Inspector-in-Cost Daniel Brubaker mentioned in a press release.

“They additional compounded their crimes by committing identification theft towards these clients to facilitate their elaborate scheme to defraud a number of nationwide monetary establishments.”

In response to the division, these “concerned within the conspiracy” stole bank cards from the mail and activated the playing cards utilizing stolen personally identifiable data. Different members of the conspiracy used the stolen playing cards to buy luxurious items from high-end retailers, comparable to Chanel, Fendi, Hermes and Dior, and bought them on LuxurySnob.com.

The web site calls itself an “on-line consignment and private procuring firm” specializing in “pre-owned luxurious gadgets,” however truly sells many gadgets bought utilizing stolen bank cards, in accordance with the DOJ.

“The conduct alleged is disgraceful,” USPS-OIG Particular Agent-in-Cost Matthew Modafferi mentioned. “Our workplace will proceed to vigorously examine postal service workers and their co-conspirators who violate the general public’s belief.”