8 Milwaukee men charged in connection to crime ring targeting USPS carriers

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Eight Milwaukee men are facing charges in connection to a large-scale mail theft and check washing operation, according to court documents.

Police said the men allegedly belong to a crime ring they've been tracking since October 2022.

A criminal complaint describes the months-long investigation when Milwaukee police and the FBI tracked the group who are allegedly responsible for multiple armed robberies of United States Postal carriers and stealing more than $500,000 in check washing operation.

The men all face at least one charge for their role in the crime ring, according to court documents.

The documents said the group stole at least five arrow keys, a universal key that opens mail collection boxes, parcel lockers, cluster box units and apartment panels.

Police said there's video and witness evidence of the group stealing mail.

The documents said the group washed the recovered checks using acetone and deposited the money at different banks in Wisconsin.

Police found more than 900 checks made out to hundreds of different people, six guns, including an AK-47, nearly $7,000, multiple arrow keys, blank checks, opened mail, bottles of acetone, and marijuana during a search warrant, according to a criminal complaint.

In a statement, the United States Postal Service (USPS) said it will continue to adapt to the evolving security threats and plans to implement new safety measures later this spring.

"In an increasingly challenging environment, the USPS and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) are highly focused on protecting postal employees and property and ensuring the secure delivery of the nation's mail and packages," a USPS statement said.

Congresswoman Gwen Moore sent a letter to the U.S. Postmaster earlier this week, urging him to take the necessary steps to protect carriers after recent incidents in Milwaukee, including the killing of carrier Aundre Cross.

A spokeswoman for the Better Business Bureau (BBB) said scams, including check washing, continue to grow and people should transfer money and pay bills online with a credit card when possible.

"If you're writing a check, you want to use a blue or black non-erasable gel ink, and also take your mail to the post office to mail, hand it to the clerk if you can," BBB Spokeswoman Lisa Schiller said.