Metro Detroit USPS Employees Charged in $63M Mail Theft Scheme

Four individuals from Metro Detroit, including two U.S. Postal Service employees, have been federally charged in a $63 million check theft and fraud scheme involving stolen tax refund checks and other negotiable items taken directly from the mail. Vanessa Hargrove and Crystal Jenkins exploited their USPS positions to divert checks to Jaiswan Williams and Dequan Foreman, who then sold them through Telegram channels named "Whole Foods Slipsss" and "Uber Eats Slips," offering checks for varying values at discounted prices. Purchasers used electronic payment methods such as Bitcoin, Cash App, and Apple Pay to buy the stolen checks, which were then forged and fraudulently cashed. Williams faces additional money laundering charges related to using Cash App accounts under other names and is accused of submitting millions of dollars in fraudulent pandemic unemployment insurance claims. Prosecutors emphasize that the scheme undermines public trust and harms taxpayers, with conspiracy charges carrying up to 30 years in prison if convicted. The case reflects a coordinated effort among federal agencies, including the USPS Office of Inspector General and the IRS, to combat mail theft and related financial crimes.