$45,000 In Stolen Checks Found In Car, 4 Arrested: New Canaan PD

NEW CANAAN, CT — Four New York residents accused of stealing mail in Connecticut and other states were arrested Saturday night after New Canaan police found stolen mail and checks in their car.

In a news release, Police Lt. Jason Ferraro said officers were called to the Hawks Hill Road area around 10:30 p.m. after receiving a report of people in a white mini-van removing mail and packages from mailboxes.

Police located the van in the area of Jelliff Mill Road and Shady Knoll Lane. The driver was identified as Deshawn Bent, 19, of Staten Island, N.Y., who told officers he and three passengers were on their way from Staten Island to the Bronx, Ferraro said.

While speaking with Bent, officers noticed a piece of mail addressed to a Hawks Hill Road residence on the passenger front seat floor of the van, Ferraro said.

Officers searched the van and found over 30 pieces of mail from multiple addresses in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, as well as stolen checks worth over $45,000 in total, Ferraro said. All four occupants of the van were arrested and held on a $100,000 bond.

Bent was charged with first-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny, third-degree identity theft, failure to renew vehicle registration, illegal operation without minimal insurance and operating a vehicle without a license.

The following three passengers were each charged with first-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit third-degree identity theft:

• Marcus Anthony McLaughlin-Thorpe, 23, of New York, N.Y.
• Iyanna Aniyah Mitchell-Rivera, 18, of Staten Island, N.Y.
• Denzel Malik McLaughlin, 21, of Bronx, N.Y.

Mitchell-Rivera posted her bond and was released. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is investigating this incident further, Ferraro said.