2 Accused Of Stealing Checks From Poughkeepsie Mailboxes

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — Two people were arrested after being accused of stealing mail out of mailboxes in the town of Poughkeepsie.

The Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department said Jasiyah N. Shabeleh, 25, and Raheem Angus, 25, both from the city of Poughkeepsie, were arrested following an investigation into ongoing thefts of checks from post office boxes.

Around 3:15 a.m. Monday, town of Poughkeepsie officers were conducting surveillance of a free-standing United States postal mailbox on Raymond Avenue after receiving several complaints of checks being stolen.

Officers said they saw two persons gain access to the mailbox. They fled on foot when officers tried to make contact.

One person, identified as Angus, was found with a large amount of mail from the mailbox, police said.

Authorities said they received information that led to the second person, identified as Shabeleh, was in a room at the Quality Inn on Haight Avenue.

Shabeleh was also wanted by town police for the violent robbery of a United States Postal Service employee at Vassar Gardens in the town on Aug. 21, police said.

A search warrant was executed at the hotel room where more than 100 stolen checks valued at more than $130,000 and proceeds from the Aug. 21 robbery were found, according to law enforcement.

Angus and Shabeleh were charged with:

• Second-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a felony
• Third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a felony
• Four counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a felony
• Second-degree obstruction of governmental administration, a misdemeanor

Shabeleh was also charged with fugitive from justice and, from the Aug. 21 robbery, two counts of second-degree robbery, second-degree assault and tampering with evidence, felonies.

The pair were arraigned Monday in the Town of Poughkeepsie Justice Court.

Angus was sent to the Dutchess County Jail with $25,000 bail, $50,000 bond or $100,000 partially secured bond.

Shabeleh was sent to the Dutchess County Jail without bail.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information about this incident or the people who were accused and arrested is asked to call the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Detective Division at 845-485-3670.

The Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department was assisted by members of the Hudson Valley FBI Safe Streets Task Force and the United States Postal Inspection Service.