Evergreen Reporter

Three individuals have been sentenced to over 16 years in federal prison for their involvement in a mail theft and bank fraud scheme. The group, consisting of Cortez Venable, Ephraim Aung, and Brooke Bryan, engaged in criminal activities from October 2021 to April 2022.

The scheme involved stealing financial documents such as checks and money orders from U.S. Postal Service (USPS) collection boxes using special "arrow keys." These keys were obtained by robbing postal workers at gunpoint. On one occasion, Venable robbed a letter carrier on October 4, 2021, after receiving instructions from Aung via text message. In another instance, Bryan and Aung acted as lookouts during an attempted robbery of a letter carrier.

Venable and Aung used the stolen arrow keys to access USPS blue collection boxes in Indianapolis, taking mail, checks, and money orders. They then created fraudulent financial instruments or altered payee information to obtain cash through a process known as "card cracking." This involves soliciting bank account holders online to deposit fake checks and provide account access for withdrawal.

During searches of Venable's car and home, investigators recovered stolen mail, arrow keys, firearms, and $70,121.44 in stolen checks. Additional evidence was found in the apartment shared by Bryan and Aung.

The fraudulent activities impacted over 150 victims with losses totaling approximately $104,747.09. Sentences for the defendants are as follows: Ephraim Aung received five years imprisonment; Brooke Bryan was sentenced to 18 months; Cortez Venable received a sentence of 130 months.

John E. Childress stated that the scheme "victimized ordinary citizens" who rely on USPS services. He emphasized that severe consequences would follow violence against public servants and fraud against the public.

Dennus Bishop remarked on the dedication of law enforcement agencies involved in bringing charges against those responsible for significant mail thefts. Felicia George reiterated the importance placed on protecting USPS employees and ensuring justice for crimes committed against them.

The investigation was conducted by several law enforcement agencies including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with assistance from local police departments.