PHILADELPHIA – In a brazen scheme to steal checks from the United States mail, a Philadelphia man has been sentenced to 36 months in prison. Sam Wolo, 23, of Philadelphia, PA, admitted to his role in a conspiracy to steal checks and fraudulently alter and deposit them.
Wolo’s co-conspirators, Gransae Manue, 22, of Clifton Heights, Pennsylvania, and Bruno Nyanue, 22, of Philadelphia, have also been charged in the scheme. Manue was sentenced on May 2 to 33 months’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and restitution of $42,184. Nyanue is scheduled to be sentenced on June 12.
On December 22, 2021, the co-conspirators forcibly robbed a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier of his Arrow Key, used by letter carriers to access blue USPS collection boxes along their routes. The Arrow Key stolen by the defendants opened collection boxes in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, and the three used it repeatedly to steal mail from boxes in that area.
Between December 2021 and February 2022, the co-conspirators “washed” and altered checks they stole from the mail that belonged to victims who had mailed checks in Drexel Hill. The defendants altered the stolen checks to make them payable to third parties, often in amounts greater than the checks’ original value, without the victims’ knowledge or consent. As part of the scheme, the defendants deposited the fraudulently washed and altered checks into those third-party accounts, and in at least some instances, withdrew some of the fraudulently deposited funds.
Approximately 370 stolen checks and nine stolen money orders were recovered from defendant Wolo’s apartment. The Arrow Key stolen by the defendants from the USPS letter carrier in Drexel Hill, as well as two stolen checks and two money orders, were also recovered from defendant Wolo’s vehicle. Altogether, the value of stolen checks and money orders recovered from defendant Wolo’s apartment and car totaled more than $171,000.
The case was investigated by the Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Philadelphia Police Department and the Upper Darby Police Department. U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero praised the efforts of law enforcement, stating, “Today’s sentence reflects the serious consequences that await those who compromise the security of our mail system. We ask everyone to help support this critical service and maintain the integrity of our mail system by reporting any suspicious activity as we work together to keep our mail safe and secure.”
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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