Belmont Man Admits to Bank Fraud Scheme

CONCORD, NH – Jon Daigle, Jr., 33, of Belmont, New Hampshire, has confessed to participating in a brazen bank fraud conspiracy, federal prosecutors announced Thursday. The scheme involved stealing mail, altering checks, and attempting to cash them across the state. The case highlights a growing trend of criminals exploiting the U.S. Mail for financial gain.

The unraveling of the operation began back in December 2019, when Belmont Police officers responded to a report of drug use in a vehicle outside a convenience store. A search of the car revealed not only drug paraphernalia and suspected methamphetamine, but also a disturbing cache of stolen mail addressed to residents of Laconia, Gilford, and Meredith. This included checks made out to individuals who weren’t even in the car – a clear sign something far more serious was unfolding.

The scope of the fraud widened significantly on January 12, 2020, when Bedford Police surveillance caught Daigle on camera picking the lock of a community mailroom. He systematically rifled through packages, making off with a handful of stolen mail. This mail, along with items pilfered from Manchester mailboxes, became the fuel for the subsequent check alteration and cashing spree. Between January and April 2020, Daigle and his accomplice attempted to profit from the stolen checks at banks throughout New Hampshire.

Their luck ran out on April 1, 2020, when the pair attempted to use a stolen driver’s license to cash a check at a local credit union. The attempt failed, but it provided investigators with another crucial piece of the puzzle. Just weeks later, on April 23, 2020, Manchester Police apprehended Daigle and his co-conspirator. A search of their vehicle yielded a staggering haul: over $16,000 in stolen checks, stolen credit cards, the fraudulent driver’s license, and a mountain of additional stolen mail.

“Bank fraud causes real harm to individuals as well as financial institutions,” stated U.S. Attorney Scott W. Murray. “The harm is compounded when criminals interfere with the U.S. Mail to facilitate their schemes. We will continue to work closely with U.S. Postal Inspection Service and all of our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who engage in this type of criminal activity.” Inspector in Charge Joseph W. Cronin of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division added, “The U.S. Mail remains one of the most secure means of transmitting personal information and our Postal Inspectors work diligently to preserve the integrity of the U.S. Mail.”

Daigle is scheduled to be sentenced on November 17, 2020. The investigation was a collaborative effort between the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Belmont Police Department, the Bedford Police Department, and the Manchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Georgiana L. Konesky is prosecuting the case. This case serves as a stark reminder that mail theft is rarely a victimless crime, and those involved will face federal prosecution.

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