Adrian Vincent Cross, 52, of Poteau, Oklahoma, has pled guilty to a federal conspiracy to steal, possess, and utter stolen United States Postal money orders — a crime that unfolded across the rugged towns of eastern Oklahoma in late December 2015 and into January 2016. He stands alongside his wife, Lonetta Nichole Cross, 44, also of Poteau, and LaDaugna Jean Duxbury, 54, of Shady Point, Oklahoma, all admitting their roles in the scheme.
The indictment, unsealed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, alleges the trio knowingly conspired to traffic in stolen U.S. Postal Service Money Order Forms between December 24, 2015, and January 13, 2016. The operation spanned multiple jurisdictions, exploiting the anonymity and accessibility of postal financial instruments to launder and pass fraudulent documents.
Charged under Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. The statute covers conspiracies against the United States, and in this case, federal prosecutors proved the defendants worked in tandem to undermine the integrity of the nation’s postal financial system.
The investigation was a joint effort by the Pocola Police Department, Shady Point Police Department, Leflore County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Postal Service. Evidence gathered pointed to a coordinated effort to cash or exchange stolen money orders, often using aliases or third parties to avoid detection on surveillance and transaction records.
The guilty pleas were entered before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kimberly E. West in Muskogee. Presentencing investigation reports are now being prepared, with formal sentencing hearings to be scheduled once those documents are complete. No bond conditions or early release terms were disclosed.
Assistant United States Attorney Kristin Harrington prosecuted the case for the federal government. Authorities are warning the public that fraud involving postal money orders remains an active investigative priority, particularly when organized groups exploit small-town banking and retail networks to pass stolen instruments.
Related Federal Cases
- Lonetta Cross Sentenced for Postal Money Order Fraud · Oklahoma
- Theresa Jo Davis Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Conspiracy · Oklahoma
- Shady Point Woman Jailed for Stealing Postal Money Orders · Oklahoma
- Poteau Thief Sentenced for Stealing Postal Money Orders · Oklahoma
- Amanda Jones Sentenced for 60 Years in Meth Conspiracy · Oklahoma
Key Facts
- State: Oklahoma
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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