New Jersey Duo Steal $670,313 Worth of Checks From USPS Collection Boxes

Two New Jersey men are admitting their roles in a conspiracy to steal checks from the mail and engaging in check washing in order to cash out.

The operation targeted USPS collection boxes in Livingston and Clifton using stolen postal keys and caused financial institutions to lose $670,313.46, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey

Leslie Blackwood, 25, of Irvington, entered his guilty plea in Newark federal court on Wednesday to conspiracy to steal checks from the mail.

His accomplice, Verly Antenor, 24, of Roselle Park, had previously pleaded guilty to the same charge.

According to the prosecution, stolen or misappropriated keys to gain access to USPS’ collection boxes.

“To profit from the scheme, Blackwood and Antenor sold, deposited, or caused to be deposited the stolen checks to fraudulently obtain funds from financial institutions. Blackwood and Antenor sometimes “washed” the stolen checks by erasing the date, payee, amount, and memo line from the stolen checks and replacing the information, oftentimes for higher amounts than the amounts originally written on the checks.”

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