[BreachExchange] USPS mail carriers stole over 1K credit cards from New Yorkers’ mail: DA

[Terrell Byrd]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/usps-mail-carriers-stole-over-1k-credit-cards-from-new-yorkers-mail-da/ar-AARCJrr


NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Several United States Postal Service mail carriers
were indicted Wednesday for allegedly stealing over 1,000 credit cards from
New Yorkers’ mail.

The thefts allegedly took place between January 2017 and August 2019,
according to Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance.

During that time, accused ringleader Michael Richards, 37, allegedly
recruited multiple mail carriers to steal from the mail they delivered in
New York City and Virginia.

Those carriers were identified as 36-year-old Kennisha Murrell, 31-year-old
Curquan Highsmith, 31-year-old Bruce Bienvenu, and 25-year-old Kenneth
Freeman Jr.

Vance noted that after the carriers would steal the credit cards, they
would use online databases to learn personal identifying information about
the cardholders to activate the cards and purchase luxury goods.

In total, the group is accused of stealing more than $750,000 from various
financial institutions by removing more than 1,000 credit cards from the
mail.

“This holiday season, we know that identity thieves will be targeting not
just our inboxes, but our mailboxes,” said Vance. “So, we’re putting
scammers on notice: the Manhattan D.A.’s Office has the expertise,
resources, and partnerships in cybercrime and identity theft to find you
and hold you accountable.”

Authorities also identified 38-year-old Shamar Haughton, who they said
acted as a courier, bringing the stolen mail from the carriers to Richards.

Vance said 33-year-old Justin Forgenie also helped to provide Richards with
personal identifying information to activate the stolen cards.

Tatiana Smith, 34, allegedly then used those cards to make purchases on
Richards’ behalf at Hermes, Bloomingdale’s, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Neiman
Marcus, Best Buy and Macy’s. Richards allegedly instructed her to purchase
items that could easily be resold or returned for store credit, which was
then sold for cash.

Suzana Mikhaylova, 34, and Daniel Mikhaylova, 39, were also implicated in
the ID theft ring, accused of making unauthorized transactions at the
jewelry store they owned – The Watch Standard – by processing fictitious
transactions, according to Vance.

The scheme was uncovered in February 2019, according to the DA’s office,
when a credit card company noticed a pattern of new cards not reaching
their owners and reached out to the United States Postal Inspection Service.
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