Mail Carrier Pleads No Contest to Stealing Mail for Credit Card Fraud Ring

A mail carrier who allegedly took thousands of pieces of mail from residents as part of a scheme to steal credit cards pleaded no contest on Thursday to identity theft, burglary and credit card fraud charges, San Mateo County prosecutors said.

Romeo Maniulit Natan, a 38-year-old San Bruno resident, was arrested in December after another suspect who was caught using a stolen credit card implicated him as the source, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.

Investigators found that Natan was stealing cards and giving them to several friends, who used them to make fraudulent purchases.

Wagstaffe said Natan was caught on camera using stolen credit cards twice at a Target in Colma and a search of his home and vehicle uncovered more than 3,000 pieces of undelivered mail.

On Thursday, Natan pleaded no contest to one count of felony identity theft, one count of felony commercial burglary and one count of felony credit card fraud. The other counts were dismissed, but can be considered for purposes of sentencing, Wagstaffe said.

Natan was ordered to return to court on Feb. 21 for sentencing. He remains in custody in lieu of $150,000 bail.

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