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Bedrock Of The Community
12662 Posts |
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Quote:
HOUSTON – A Houston man and woman are accused of recruiting U.S. Postal Service mail carriers to steal checks from their routes.
It's part of a 5-person scheme to get the checks and resell them for millions of dollars.
According to a federal indictment, Tryston Tremaine Vaughn and Alyssa Nadine Bryant resold approximately $23.97 million in stolen checks.
All of the suspects are facing Bank Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud charges.
The indictment identifies the postal workers as Catherine Clauzell Kilpatrick, Drakkor Jamal Alexander and Malcolm Tiree Joubert. All three are facing additional charges of Theft of Mail Matter by Postal Employee charges.
Prosecutors allege Vaughn and Bryant purchased the stolen checks from the postal employees. Bryant then allegedly sold the checks through a Telegram App channel and shipped the checks to buyers using FedEx.
In one example, prosecutors say Joubert stole a check for $1,517,875.27 from a BMO Bank account in 2024, then sold it to Vaughn.
The defendants are charged in connection with an alleged conspiracy to defraud Chase, Amegy, Citibank, BMO and Stellar banks.
The government says it will seek a monetary judgment and forfeiture of property if the defendants are convicted. https://www.click2houston.com/news/...heck-scheme/https://www.click2houston.com/news/...heck-scheme/ |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
721 Posts |
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HOLY ... Hopefully, we will get details soon - how long it lasted, how it was discovered, who investigated, etc. |
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Pillar Of The Community
United Kingdom
8615 Posts |
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
33 Posts |
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
349 Posts |
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What I don't understand is how a check can be cashed out by someone other than the person it's made out to. I did an image search, and it does appear that a "check" is similar to a cheque, but maybe without the option of having it crossed. "Tryston Tremaine Vaughn". Well, everyone knows the Cornish are rogues.  |
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Bedrock Of The Community
United States
10769 Posts |
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Lots of people still use checks. Sometimes it is the only way to pay (such as my rent, which has to be mailed to a location too far away to be paid any other way). And since it is possible to deposit checks online, and since it is possible to endorse a check to another person, it can potentially be deposited illegally and then money can be withdrawn. Risky, but possible. |
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Bedrock Of The Community
12662 Posts |
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The people doing the cashing were very sophisticated, likely with a lot of stolen identity to use to get the job done. I deposit checks online but their are limits to the amounts. I deposit checks at the bank branch but their are mandatory holds. I doubt they will and hope they don't get too granular as to how this is done. |
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Bedrock Of The Community
United States
10769 Posts |
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Pillar Of The Community
United Kingdom
8615 Posts |
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Bank branch? I remember those. Used to four in our area, now none. I understand that bank transfers cost money in the US, rather than being free, as here, but for $1.5m, I'd pay up. |
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Bedrock Of The Community
12662 Posts |
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Actually, I have never had an ACH/EFT payment cost anything. In fact, that is the preferred way of doing things. I pay money all of the time that way (electronic check) and receive money the same way. Paper checks cost more now to process and obviously are less secure. It's much faster than paper as well. Not sure of the reasons someone wanted paper checks but I'm sure the financial institutions didn't want to do it. |
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Bedrock Of The Community
United States
10769 Posts |
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Still plenty of people who prefer paper checks to electronics. Eventually that will go away I suppose, but for now they are still pretty common. Probably a lot more so with people over 50. |
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Replies: 10 / Views: 175 |
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Posted Today 7 Hrs 51 Min ago
