Pensacola Mail Thief Gets 25 Months

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Rashaad Tariq Lee, 31, of Pensacola, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 25 months for Unlawful Possession of Stolen Mail and Means of Identification. The sentencing, announced by U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin for the Northern District of Florida, marks the culmination of a joint investigation into a brazen scheme that impacted dozens of victims.

The investigation began to unfold on February 22, 2024, when the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at an apartment Lee fraudulently obtained using a senior citizen’s identity. What they found was a counterfeiter’s workshop – stolen mail piled up alongside tools used to create fake IDs, driver’s licenses, and social security cards. The haul also included stolen and counterfeit checks, painting a picture of a calculated operation designed to exploit others for personal gain.

“Mail theft and identity theft has a devastating impact on the victims of such crimes,” stated U.S. Attorney Heekin. “My office will aggressively pursue prosecutions to ensure offenders face maximum consequences for the harm they have caused.” Investigators didn’t stop at the evidence found in Lee’s apartment. They painstakingly identified 71 additional victims based on the stolen items seized, revealing the scope of his criminal reach.

Law enforcement officials are sending a clear message: targeting the mail isn’t a victimless crime. “This prosecution sends the message that mail theft will not be tolerated, and the perpetrators will be held accountable,” said Acting Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Miami Division. Escambia County Sheriff Chip W. Simmons echoed the sentiment, stating, “Teamwork delivers results. Through our partnership…a suspect has been sentenced to 25 months. If you steal from our community, you will face justice.”

Lee’s prison sentence doesn’t mark the end of his accountability. He will also face a three-year term of supervised release following his incarceration. Any violation of the conditions of his release could send him back to prison for additional time. The case was a collaborative effort between the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer H. Callahan leading the prosecution.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices nationwide dedicated to federal litigation. Public court documents related to this case can be found on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. Further information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office can be found at http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.