breaking

Five Charged in $24M Check Theft Scheme Using FedEx for Deliveries

Federal prosecutors in Texas have charged five people with stealing nearly $24 million in checks from mail routes. The stolen checks were distributed to buyers nationwide through parcel carrier FedEx. Three United States Postal Service carriers—Catherine Clauzelle Kilpatrick, Drakkor Jamar Alexander and Malcolm Tiree Joubert—allegedly removed checks from Houston delivery routes beginning in October 2022. Tryston Tremaine Vaughn coordinated the purchases while Alyssa Nadine Bryant helped acquire and ship the instruments. The group marketed stolen checks through an encrypted Telegram channel called "slipsandchips." Investigators identified checks from BMO Bank, Chase, Amegy Bank, Citibank and Stellar Bank in the scheme, with one check valued at $1,517,875. A federal grand jury returned nine counts against the defendants, including conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud charges.