15 arrested in El Paso mail-theft ring targeting home, community mailboxes

El Paso police investigators have arrested 15 people in a yearlong investigation into a mail-theft ring, officials said Monday.

Detectives have identified 37 victims of fraud linked to documents stolen from mail from homes and community mailboxes since December 2016, police said.

An investigation by the police Financial Crimes Unit continues and detectives suspect there could be more victims, officials added.

The arrests have taken place over the past year and additional arrests and charges are pending, officials said.

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In December 2016, the Financial Crimes Unit began an investigation after police noted an increase in reports of stolen mail from homes and community mailboxes in Northeast El Paso, officials said.

The investigation by police working with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service found that the ring allegedly stole mailed documents that were then used to commit fraud against residents and financial institutions, police said.

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Five women and 10 men face charges of engaging in organized criminal activity-forgery and engaging in organized criminal activity-fraudulent use or possession of identifying information.

All the suspects were from El Paso except for Samantha Vasquez, 23, who is from Socorro, police said.

Three of those arrested — Brent Harrison Kennedy, Allen Battle and Michelle Hudspeth — had been featured last year among El Paso most-wanted fugitives.

El Paso County court records show at least one suspect in the mail-theft case was convicted and sentenced last year.

In August, Darryl Clinton Brown, 25, pleaded guilty to forgery and fraudulent use/possession of identifying information. He was sentenced to 18 months in state jail.

Last year, detectives identified at least 30 victims in a separate large-scale mail theft scheme in which thieves fished for money orders from mail placed inside blue U.S. Postal Service drop-off boxes. Those thefts were in 2016, from March to December.

More: Police investigate large-scale mailbox thefts

Long before email, first airplane to deliver mail in and out of El Paso debuted in 1930

Police advise anyone who was a victim of mail theft to contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service can be reached at 877-876-2455. Mail theft complaints also can be made online at postalinspectors.uspis.gov.

Daniel Borunda may be reached at 546-6102; dborunda@elpasotimes.com; @BorundaDaniel on Twitter.

Mail-theft ring arrests

• Darryl Clinton Brown, 25

• Allen Battle, 32

• Cody Ray York, 24

• Johnathan Wayne James, 35

• Brent Harrison Kennedy, 35

• Jason Curtis Smith, 34

• Iliana Molina Jones, 33

• Michelle Hudspeth, 47

• Pierre A. Tanner, 31

•Thomas Kevin Lawry, 35

• Kenneth Burk Bell, 28

• Delilah Amanda Delgado, 38

• June Granado, 29

• Michael George Gomez, 32

• Samantha Vasquez, 23

Source: El Paso Police Department

Protect your mail

• Use the letter slot inside a post office or hand mail to a letter carrier.

• Pick up mail promptly. Do not leave it in mailbox overnight.

• Don't send cash.

• If you don't receive an expected check or other valuable mail, contact sender.

• Inform post office when you'll be out of town so it can hold your mail.

• Report mail theft suspicions to a postal inspector.

• Start a neighborhood watch. Ask a trusted neighbor or friend to watch your mailbox and home.

• If you see a mail theft in progress, call police immediately.

Source: U.S. Postal Inspection Service