Four St. Louis area residents, including a former U.S. Postal Service employee, have been sentenced for their involvement in a scheme that stole checks from the mail to commit bank fraud, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Thomas C. Albus.
The defendants received prison sentences ranging from 12 to 80 months and were ordered to pay $44,135 in restitution.
U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp sentenced Wynter Hinton, a former mail carrier, to 12 months in prison on August 5. Ryan McKinney was given a 28-month sentence on July 17. Jayden Burklow received a 57-month sentence in June, and Johnathan Barnett was sentenced to 80 months in April.
According to court documents, the conspiracy took place between January 2022 and September 2023. During this period, Johnathan Barnett purchased a key to U.S. Postal Service collection boxes from Hinton. Barnett and others used the key to steal mail from collection boxes located throughout St. Louis County. Hinton also took checks while delivering mail along her route.
After obtaining the stolen checks, Barnett, Burklow, and McKinney altered them and recruited people willing to let their bank accounts be used for depositing fraudulent checks. The funds were withdrawn before banks could identify the transactions as fraudulent attempts; they tried at least $800,000 worth of fraud using this method.
Barnett was found with an AR-15-style rifle equipped with a high-capacity drum magazine, four other firearms, and check-making equipment when authorities searched his home on September 15, 2023.
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is charged with defending the nation’s mail system from illegal use. With the collaborative efforts of our federal law enforcement partners, Postal Inspectors investigate fraudsters who utilize the U.S. Mail to perpetuate financial schemes to defraud others to enrich themselves. Postal Inspectors seek justice for victims including those most vulnerable,” said Inspector in Charge Ruth Mendonça of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
“This sentencing represents the hard work and dedication by USPS OIG Special Agents working with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring charges on this significant mail theft investigation,” said Special Agent in Charge Dennus Bishop of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General Central Area Field Office.“The OIG, along with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to safeguarding the U.S. Mail and ensuring the accountability and integrity of U.S. Postal Service employees.”
Barnett pleaded guilty in December to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, possession of stolen mail, and being a felon in possession of a firearm; he is from University City and is 30 years old.Hinton pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a mail key; she is from St.Ann and is age 29.McKinney (age 25) of St.Louis,and Burklow (age 21)of O’Fallon Illinois each pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to bank fraud as well as possession of stolen mail.
The case was investigated by multiple agencies:the U.S.Postal Inspection Service,the Office of Inspector General,the Bureau of Alcohol,Tobacco Firearms & Explosives,the Creve Coeur Police Department,and University City Police Department.Assistant U.S.Attorney Gwen Carroll prosecuted.
