SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Three New York City residents were arrested in connection with a large-scale mail theft scheme targeting U.S. Postal Service collection boxes across Suffolk County, prosecutors said.
Nicholas Delvillar, 32, of the Bronx; Franklin Mercedes, 27, of the Bronx; and Jhosua Peralta, 24, of Queens, were charged with grand larceny after prosecutors said they stole checks and other items from blue USPS collection boxes throughout Suffolk County.
Investigators seized more than 6,750 stolen checks totaling $4.8 million, along with a loaded 9mm firearm and U.S. currency, following search warrants at the defendants’ residences, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney.
“These defendants allegedly used a ‘fishing’ device to steal checks, money orders, gift cards, and more from mail in United States Postal Service blue collection boxes," Tierney said. "To protect your mail, we urge all Suffolk County residents to use the letter slots inside your local Post Office. We will continue to aggressively prosecute those who target our communities.”
According to the investigation, the men traveled to Suffolk County from the Bronx on June 3 and stole mail from collection boxes in numerous communities, including Melville, Huntington Station, East Northport, Commack, Smithtown, St. James, Nesconset, Hauppauge, Centereach, Holbrook, Bohemia, Farmingville, Brentwood, Medford, Patchogue, Blue Point, Bayport, Sayville, West Sayville and Oakdale, prosecutors said.
The trio used a makeshift “fishing” device made by attaching a sticky glue trap to the end of a belt, prosecutors said. The device was used to extract mail containing checks, money orders, gift cards and other items of value from collection boxes, according to prosecutors.
The men then attempted to sell many of the stolen checks on a social media platform, prosecutors said.
“This significant investigation targeted the U.S. Mail, a trusted institution, as a gateway for financial fraud,” said Ketty Larco-Ward, inspector in charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s New York Division. “Postal Inspectors utilize every tool at their disposal, including cutting-edge technology to uncover these schemes and strong collaborations with fellow law enforcement partners, to fully investigate these crimes.”
Delvillar and Peralta were each arraigned June 5 before District Court Judge John B. Zollo on charges of third-degree grand larceny, a Class D felony, and fourth-degree grand larceny, a Class E felony, prosecutors said.
Both charges are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, prosecutors said. Zollo ordered Delvillar and Peralta placed on supervised release with GPS monitoring while their cases are pending.
Mercedes was arraigned June 10 before District Court Judge Evan Zuckerman on the same charges. Zuckerman also ordered Mercedes placed on supervised release with GPS monitoring, prosecutors said.
Delvillar is due back in court July 23 and faces up to 3 1/2 to 7 years in prison if convicted of the top count, prosecutors said. He is represented by Sean Dixon.
Peralta is due back in court July 14 and faces up to 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison if convicted of the top count, prosecutors said. He is represented by Steven Metcalf.
Mercedes is due back in court July 20 and faces up to 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison if convicted of the top count, prosecutors said. He is represented by Barry Weinstein.
The attorneys were not immediately available to comment.
The theft of mail for the purpose of obtaining checks and other items of value is an ongoing nationwide problem, prosecutors said.
“We will not tolerate criminals coming into Suffolk County to victimize our community members,” said Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina. “This trio stole thousands of checks from U.S. Postal Service collection boxes as part of a scheme to profit from stolen mail. Through our law enforcement collaboration, we disrupted this operation and prevented additional victims.”
Anyone who sees mail theft occur, or believes their mail was stolen, should call police immediately and contact Postal Inspectors at 1-877-876-2455.
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