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HOUSTON -- Three Houston postal carriers are among five people federally charged in an alleged check theft scheme that investigators said generated more than $23 million over nearly six years.
According to the indictment, postal carriers were recruited to steal checks from the mail and then sell them to buyers through an encrypted communications group on Telegram.
Investigators said the scheme was allegedly orchestrated by Tryston Vaughn, who recruited postal carriers to remove checks from the mail stream.
The stolen checks were then allegedly advertised and sold through a Telegram group called "Slips and Chips." The three postal carriers charged in the case are Catherine Kilpatrick, Drakkor Alexander and Malcolm Joubert, according to court records.
The indictment alleges the stolen checks included some made out for $16,000, $25,000 and $80,000. The largest check identified in the indictment was allegedly worth $1.5 million and was taken from the mail by Joubert, investigators said.
A fifth defendant, Alyssa Bryant, is accused of selling a stolen check to a buyer on Telegram for $25,000. Investigators said the stolen checks were then shipped to buyers through FedEx.
The alleged sch eme generated more than $23 million over a period of about six years, according to federal prosecutors. People in Houston who heard about the scheme said the allegations were disturbing and made them think twice about the security of their mail.
"I feel like that definitely wasn't right. That's a given," Suraj Bose said.
Dinklage said the amount of money allegedly involved was staggering. "$23 million is not just something you find lying around in a city like Houston," he said.
"They were probably pretty good at it." Lila Molina said the allegations have also raised concerns about the security of the mail. "It definitely does.
I definitely still have that bit of fear," Molina said. The five defendants face federal charges related to the alleged scheme.
The charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
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