LOS ANGELES – In a stunning turn of events, former U.S. Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier Rashad Deon Stolden has been sentenced to 66 months in federal prison for orchestrating a multi-million dollar mail fraud scheme that spanned four years.
The 34-year-old Huntington Beach resident, who worked at the Bicentennial Post Office in Los Angeles, pleaded guilty on April 14 to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Stolden was ordered to pay $1,627,291 in restitution by United States District Judge R. Gary Klausner.
Stolen mail included Treasury and other checks, as well as debit cards from the California Employment Development Department (EDD). Alongside another USPS carrier, Charlie Green, and friends, Stolden sold these items to co-conspirators who used counterfeit identity documents to cash them in. The duo also purchased identifying information of victims to activate their stolen EDD cards.
In June 2022, Stolden stole a $7.3 million Treasury check, which he sold to a co-conspirator who successfully negotiated it at a Tennessee bank, withdrawing over $1 million. Both Stolden and Green are currently free on $50,000 bond, though both face separate court proceedings.
Prosecutors highlighted Stolden’s lack of empathy for his victims, noting in their sentencing memorandum that he seemed to prioritize personal profit over the well-being of those whose benefits were stolen. One such example was his contemplation of using his ill-gotten gains for a luxury vacation.
This investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, USPS Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Treasury for Tax Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Coast Guard Investigative Services. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Brown prosecuted this case.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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