Mail Drop Box Theft Ring Busted In Morris Co., Officials Say

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Six men have been charged with breaking into U.S. Postal Service mail boxes to steal checks in five different New Jersey counties, including Morris County, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

The five men allegedly broke into collection boxes late at night, using pry bars to get to the mail. They generally stole checks, Carpenito said, and deposited them into bank accounts within a day of them being stolen. Officials say at least $300,000 was stolen.

Ismael Alicea, Jr., 25, Yerrisson Garcia-Rodriguez, 23, Jerry Lake-Rodriguez, 25, Johan Lake-Rodriguez, 26, Brayan Ulloa-Ulloa, 24, and Jefersson Quezada, 21, all of Paterson, are each charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Garcia-Rodriguez, Jerry Lake-Rodriguez, Johan Lake-Rodriguez, and Quezada are also charged with aggravated identity theft, and Alicea and Johan Lake-Rodriguez are charged with possession of stolen mail. Everyone except for Alicea faces a charge of bank fraud.

Five of the defendants have been taken int custody. Quezada has not yet been arrested.

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