Three men have been charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud in connection with the theft of mail from collection boxes and postal vehicles throughout Northern New Jersey, according to an announcement by Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello.
The defendants, identified as Jeffrey Bennett, also known as “Bizz” or “Riley Smith,” 31, of Irvington and Rahway; Aquil Hubbard, 31, of Middlesex and Newark; and Tashon Ragan, also known as “Ta,” 26, of Union, were charged by criminal complaint. All three appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa in Newark federal court and are being held pending further proceedings.
Court documents state that between December 2024 and December 2025, the three men conspired to steal mail and packages from United States Postal Service (USPS) collection boxes and postal vehicles. The group targeted checks, financial instruments, and other valuable items found in the mail. They allegedly altered checks for deposit at various financial institutions in New Jersey and used social media platforms to recruit account holders at these institutions to assist with their scheme.
Investigators linked Bennett, Hubbard, and Ragan to a series of smash-and-grab burglaries involving USPS vehicles across Northern New Jersey. According to authorities, members of the conspiracy either broke windows or entered unlocked postal vehicles to steal trays of mail—often during daylight hours while postal workers were making deliveries.
If convicted on the charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, each defendant faces up to 30 years in prison and a fine that could reach $1 million or twice the gross gain or loss involved in the offense.
Senior Counsel Lamparello credited postal inspectors from the United States Postal Inspection Service under Inspector in Charge Christopher Nielsen (Philadelphia Division) for leading the investigation. He also acknowledged assistance from inspectors with the USPS Office of Inspector General (Northeast Area Field Office), agents from the United States Secret Service’s Newark Field Office, and officers from several local police departments including Bernards, Belleville, Chatham Borough, Clifton, East Hanover, Maplewood, Middlesex, Metuchen, Nutley, Parsippany, Rahway, Roseland, and Union.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael K. O’Leary is representing the government in this case.
“The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.”
Defense counsel includes Laura Sayler for Bennett; Perry Primavera for Hubbard; and Adam Elewa for Ragan.
