5 CHARGED IN ALLEGED $23.9 MILLION STOLEN-CHECK SCHEME
Five people, including three Houston-area U.S. Postal Service employees, have been federally charged in connection with an alleged scheme prosecutors say involved approximately $23.97 million in stolen checks.
The defendants are:
* Tryston Tremaine Vaughn
* Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
* Bank fraud (5 counts)
* Alyssa Nadine Bryant
* Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
* Bank fraud (5 counts)
* Catherine Clauzell Kilpatrick
* Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
* Bank fraud (5 counts)
* Theft of mail matter by a postal employee
* Drakkor Jamar Alexander
* Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
* Bank fraud (5 counts)
* Theft of mail matter by a postal employee
* Malcolm Tiree Joubert
* Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
* Bank fraud (5 counts)
* Theft of mail matter by a postal employee
According to the federal indictment, prosecutors allege USPS carriers stole checks from mail routes and provided them to others who allegedly purchased, sold or distributed the stolen checks through an online network.
Investigators say some of the checks were worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, including one allegedly worth more than $1.5 million.
The alleged scheme reportedly operated from October 2022 through September 2024.
All five defendants face federal charges related to bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud. The three postal employees also face charges alleging theft of mail by a postal employee.
⚠️ These are allegations contained in a federal indictment. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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