SALISAW, OK – The seemingly innocuous act of lifting mail is a gateway to financial ruin for victims, and three Oklahoma residents are now paying the price. Federal sentencing this week revealed a pattern of brazen mail theft and identity fraud, highlighting the vulnerability of personal information flowing through the U.S. Postal System. U.S. Attorney Trent Shores minced no words: “The mail is regarded as sacred…Unfortunately, unscrupulous thieves see the mail as a source of income.”
The most dramatic case involved Christopher Jacob Froehlich, 33, of Salisaw, who received two years in federal prison for aggravated identity theft. Froehlich didn’t just steal; he used the stolen identities. Authorities say he purchased $1,058.29 worth of goods at Walmart using a credit card pilfered from a mailbox. The purchase triggered a high-speed chase on November 30, 2018, when Broken Arrow police attempted a traffic stop. Froehlich allegedly floored it, leading officers on a 17-minute pursuit reaching 90 mph, running red lights and tossing evidence from the vehicle before crashing into a fire hydrant. A search revealed not only the Walmart receipt but also several grams of methamphetamine.
Froehlich admitted to a month-long spree of mailbox raiding, swiping checks and credit cards to fund his activities. He will also serve one year of supervised release after completing his prison sentence. The investigation, a joint effort by the U.S. Secret Service and Broken Arrow Police Department, was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Cella. But Froehlich wasn’t working alone. Two other Tulsa residents were also sentenced this week for their roles in the mail theft operation.
Cory Blake Ackley, 29, of Tulsa, and Jennifer Kathryn Steffen, 35, of Tulsa, were sentenced for possession of stolen mail, as well as a violation of Steffen’s supervised release from a previous 2016 mail theft conviction. Ackley received 17 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Steffen, a repeat offender, faces a significantly longer sentence of 33 months in federal prison, also followed by three years of supervised release. The pair were caught red-handed on December 27, 2018, by Tulsa Police stealing mail from residential mailboxes in South Tulsa.
A search of their vehicle uncovered a staggering 391 pieces of unopened mail originating from 51 different addresses. The haul included everything from billing statements and credit card applications to sensitive financial and tax documents, Amazon packages, and even gift cards. Authorities emphasized the duo’s history with similar crimes. The Tulsa Police Department and U.S. Postal Inspection Service collaborated on this investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. McLoughlin leading the prosecution.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is urging citizens to take preventative measures. Recommendations include never placing outgoing mail in residential mailboxes, promptly collecting incoming mail, considering a post office box, and using locking mailboxes. They also advise against sending cash through the mail and suggest reporting any suspicious activity – whether it’s a neighbor raiding mailboxes or unusual activity in financial accounts – to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 918-732-6616 and local law enforcement. Shores concluded with a stern warning: “The criminals investigated will be vigorously prosecuted by this U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
Related Federal Cases
- Christopher Jacob Froehlich, Wire Fraud and Counterfeiting, OK, 2014 · Washington
- Christopher Thomas and Lawrence Thomas Indicted for Mail Fraud, Jef… · Texas
- Christopher Williams, Counterfeit $700 Bill Scheme, GA, 2023 · Georgia
- Christopher Thomas, Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy, East St. Louis… · Missouri
- Simon Robert Barron, Pharmacy Burglary and Theft of Government Prop… · Texas
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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