Two Former Postal Workers Charged with Stealing U.S. Treasury Checks Valued at more than $4 Million from Kennedy Airport Mail Facility

NEW YORK - Four separate indictments were unsealed today at the Federal courthouse in Brooklyn charging five defendants with crimes related to the fraudulent theft and deposit of checks issued by the United States Department of the Treasury.  As alleged in the indictments, two of the defendants, both former United States Postal Service (USPS) employees, allegedly sold the checks which were stolen from a USPS mail facility located at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK Mail Facility) where one of the defendants worked.  The other three defendants fraudulently endorsed and deposited Treasury checks that were not addressed to them.  Four of the defendants were arrested this morning and are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Taryn A. Merkl.  One of the defendants remains at large.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York;  Daniel Brubaker, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, New York Division (USPIS), Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge, United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office (USPS OIG); Edward A. Caban, Commissioner, New York City Police Department, (NYPD); Michael Carpenter, Special Agent in Charge, United States Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Northeast Field Division (TIGTA); and Patrick J. Freaney, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service (Secret Service), announced the arrests and charges.

“The former postal workers abused their positions of trust to allegedly pull one of the biggest thefts at John F. Kennedy International Airport,” United States Attorney Peace said.  “The charges allege these five defendants stole, sold and fraudulently deposited millions of dollars in U.S. Treasury checks, which included pandemic relief payments, for their own financial benefit.  Criminals who cash in on checks stolen from the mail can expect to fill out change of address forms for the Federal prison they will be calling home.”

“Postal Inspectors relentlessly pursue criminals who exploit the US Mail for unlawful purposes.  The indictments of these co-conspirators who allegedly stole Treasury Checks and defrauded the American taxpayer serve as a resounding message to anyone who wants to steal US Mail. We will steadfastly work with our partners in law enforcement and the US Attorney’s Office, and we will hold criminals accountable for their actions,” stated USPIS Inspector in Charge Brubaker.

“The Special Agents of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General will vigorously investigate Postal Service employees and their co-conspirators who break the public’s trust. Postal Service employees who trade their integrity for greed and those who conspire with them should know that the Agents of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General will tirelessly work to bring them to justice. The USPS OIG is thankful for the great relationships we have developed with our law enforcement partners and with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to combat this criminal scheme affecting the American public,” USPS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Modafferi said.

“NYPD investigators are proud to have helped thwart this multimillion-dollar scheme that allegedly bilked innocent victims of their deserved checks,” NYPD Commissioner Caban said.  “We and our law enforcement partners are committed to maintaining the integrity of a postal system relied upon by millions of New Yorkers. And we vow to hold accountable anyone involved in the types of crimes outlined in these indictments, especially public employees who might pursue illicit gain by leveraging their positions of trust.”

“The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) aggressively investigates individuals who attempt to exploit United States Treasury refund checks meant for hard working taxpayers for their own private gain,” TIGTA Special Agent in Charge Carpenter said.  “Our mission at the TIGTA is to protect the integrity of our Nation’s system of tax administration.  We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who endeavor to violate Federal laws related are prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.”

“This 21-month investigation brought down a brazen criminal enterprise whose very existence violated the public trust,” Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Freaney said. “I want to commend the United States Postal Inspection Service, along with our many partners for rooting out this flagrant corruption through persistent and exacting investigative work. The Treasury checks stolen in this case disrupted thousands of lives and syphoned funds from the pockets of the very people the accused were expected to serve. The Secret Service is proud to play a role in holding these defendants accountable.”

United States v. Kevaughn Wellington and Ky-Mani Straker

As alleged in the indictment, between at least June 2021 and August 2023, the defendants Kevaughn Wellington and Ky-Mani Straker engaged in a scheme to steal and sell Treasury checks intended for, among other things, individuals entitled to Social Security benefits, COVID-19 stimulus checks and tax refunds.  Wellington stole parcels containing Treasury checks from the JFK Mail Facility where he was employed at the time as a postal worker.  Then, together with Straker and others, Wellington sold the stolen Treasury checks for a cut of the profit. 

As part of the scheme, Wellington and Straker stole over 125 Treasury checks valued at more than $4 million.  Straker falsely endorsed and deposited stolen Treasury checks in a bank account and withdrew the deposited funds for his own financial gain.

The defendants have been charged with conspiring to steal Government funds, theft of Government funds and possession of stolen mail.  In addition, Wellington has been charged with theft of mail by a postal service employee and Straker has been charged with passing Treasury Checks bearing forged endorsements.

United States v. Angel Ortiz; United States v. Mark Dawson; United States v. Fuquan Bradley

As alleged in the remaining indictments, Angel Ortiz, Mark Dawson and Fuquan Bradley each deposited and falsely endorsed Treasury checks in excess of $1,000 that were not addressed to them.  Each defendant has been charged separately with theft of Government funds and passing Treasury Checks bearing forged endorsements.

The charges in the indictments are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The Government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section.  Assistant United States Attorney Elias Laris is in charge of the prosecutions. 

The DefendantsDefendants:

KEVAUGHN WELLINGTON

KEVAUGHN WELLINGTON
Age:  31
Jamaica, New York

KY-MANI STRAKER
Age:  24
Orange, New Jersey

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-275 (DG)

ANGEL ORTIZ
Age:  27
Jamaica, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-281 (DG)

MARK DAWSON
Age:  28
Brooklyn, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-278 (LDH)

FUQUAN BRADLEY
Age:  34
Bronx, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-279 (RER)