Zachary Stephen Thomas, Mail Theft and Check Forgery, MI 2016

Zachary Stephen Thomas, 33, of Holland, Michigan, is going to federal prison for two years after systematically stealing mail and forging checks worth over $18,000 from unsuspecting West Michigan residents. Between December 2015 and May 2016, Thomas prowled residential neighborhoods, rifling through mailboxes in Holland and surrounding lakeshore communities, targeting financial documents with criminal precision.

Thomas wasn’t just grabbing random envelopes—he hunted for bank-issued replacement checks and credit card convenience checks mailed directly to victims’ homes. Once in possession, he altered the checks, making them payable to himself or accomplices, and forged the account holders’ signatures. These weren’t sloppy fakes; they were deliberate forgeries designed to slip past banking safeguards and drain accounts before anyone noticed.

Using stolen identities, Thomas opened online bank accounts in his name and deposited the forged checks. He’d immediately withdraw the maximum allowable cash at ATMs, then wait for the funds to clear. Once the banks processed the fraudulent deposits, he’d pull the remaining balances—often at casinos, where foot traffic and surveillance blind spots made him harder to track.

The scheme ran for six months and bled over $18,000 from multiple financial institutions. Victims weren’t just exposed to monetary loss—they faced months of credit damage, bank investigations, and the lingering fear that comes with having your identity ripped apart by a thief next door.

U.S. Attorney Patrick Miles didn’t mince words: “The integrity of the United States’ mail and the security of personal and financial information are of utmost importance.” He called the mandatory two-year sentence—handed down by U.S. District Judge Paul L. Maloney—a warning to anyone who sees mailboxes as easy targets. “Stealing mail and exploiting finances illegally will bring significant consequences.”

The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald M. Stella. In addition to his prison term, Thomas must pay $18,000 in restitution and serve one year of supervised release upon release.