WESTPORT — Following an investigation spanning more than two years, a New York woman faces multiple charges in connection with stealing a check from a local Postal Service mailbox and increasing its value more than $8,000 before fraudulently cashing it, police said.
Christina Santiago, 38, of Bronx, N.Y., was charged Aug. 2 with second-degree larceny, first-degree identity theft, conspiracy to commit second-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit first-degree identity theft and conspiracy to commit second-degree forgery.
Police on Feb. 3, 2022, began investigating a complaint from a person who reported that a $172.66 check, deposited in a local U.S. Postal Service mailbox, apparently had been stolen and its value altered to $8,457, with the payee’s name also changed to an unknown individual — “Christina Santiago” — before it was cashed, according to the report.
Police detectives used search warrants, video-surveillance recordings and information shared with other law-enforcement agencies to identify Santiago as the suspect.
A warrant for Santiago’s arrest was issued, and the warrant was executed by Westport police on Aug. 2 at the Westchester County Correctional Center in New York where she was being held.
Santiago was transported to Police Department headquarters, where she was formally charged and later released after posting $50,000 bond. She is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 16 at state Superior Court in Stamford.
Isn’t tampering with mail a Federal crime? I see numerous arrests for stealing mail and forging checks but none of the charges are for a federal crime. Has the law changed?
I can only guess that the feds have higher priorities,
But every time I see one of these stories, I can’t help but wonder, “has this scam ever worked?” Yes, it has to be a PITA for the victims to get reimbursed by their banks, but do people often pull this nonsense off without getting caught?