PHILADELPHIA – Anthony Mazzccua, 25, of Upper Darby, PA, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment for his role in a brazen mail theft and check-laundering scheme. U.S. District Court Judge Nitza I. Quiñones Alejandro also imposed three years of supervised release and ordered Mazzccua to pay $26,654.94 in restitution to the victims of his crimes.
The scheme, detailed in court documents, involved the use of a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Arrow Key to pilfer mail from collection boxes across Delaware County. Mazzccua and his accomplice, Hervens Toussaint, 26, also of Upper Darby, would then meticulously target checks, “washing” them to remove the original payee and amount before altering the information and depositing the fraudulent checks into accounts held by unsuspecting third parties. In some cases, they even attempted to immediately withdraw the stolen funds.
Law enforcement caught the pair red-handed on October 27, 2021, in Aston, PA, attempting to break into a blue USPS collection box. Mazzccua was found with six stolen checks and a USPS route key tag in his possession. A search of their vehicle revealed approximately 13 additional pieces of stolen mail and eight more stolen checks. The total financial damage attributed to Mazzccua’s actions reached $26,654.94, a significant loss for the victims whose identities and finances were exploited.
“The U.S. postal system is a cornerstone of American society, delivering essential items such as income, bills, and expenses,” stated U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero. “Through their actions, the defendants assaulted the integrity and reliability of that system, negatively impacting the lives of numerous victims who had their checks stolen from the mail. Today’s sentence reflects the grave consequences that await those who compromise the security of our mail system. We ask everyone to help support this critical service and protect our postal system by reporting any suspicious activity.”
Christopher Nielsen, Inspector in Charge of the Philadelphia Division for the Postal Inspection Service, emphasized the agency’s commitment to protecting the mail. “Protecting the mail from theft is a core mission of the Inspection Service. When someone steals mail, Postal Inspectors will work relentlessly to hold those individuals to account,” Nielsen said. He also praised the collaborative effort with the Upper Chichester Township Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Toussaint, Mazzccua’s co-defendant, received a lighter sentence in May – three years of probation, a $1,000 fine, and restitution of $15,706.67. The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Social Security Administration, and the Upper Chichester Township Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Eileen Castilla Geiger prosecuted the case, securing a conviction and a significant prison sentence for Mazzccua, sending a clear message that mail theft and related financial crimes will not be tolerated.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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