Police have arrested four people in connection with a large mail theft case across the Delaware Valley.
Investigators said the four men targeted one street in Media and obtained several checks made out to other people.
Alvin Almonte, 23, of Pennsauken, N.J., Utibe Bassey, 21, of Sicklerville, N.J., Erik Delone, 31, of Philadelphia, and Adrian Ramirez, 23, of Camden, N.J., were taken into custody.
They face charges of theft of mail, receiving stolen property and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Almonte is also facing a charge of fraudulent use of a license plate.
A traffic stop in Media led to the discovery, according to the criminal complaint. A police officer stopped what he believed to be a suspicious car driving around Media. The driver of the 2009 Acura TSX was cited for having an invalid license and registration after being stopped in the 200 block of N. Jackson Street.
During the traffic stop and subsequent search, the officer discovered multiple mail packages and large manila envelopes that were sent to Media, Glen Mills and Pleasantville, N.J. addresses.
According to Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer, one of the defendants "had checks in his pocket made out to someone else."
The affidavit specifically named a check for $742 from the Spruce Street Baptist Church in Newtown Square directed to an EJ Harrold Inc, as well as a check totaling $2,458 from a Florida Trust account written to a Feng Juan Yang.
"The message is, 'We're coming for you,'" Stollsteimer told media.
"You cannot steal mail and get away with it in Delaware County or in the United States, frankly. This is a federal offense, as well as a state offense."
The four defendants are each on a $175,000 bail and remain in jail. They are set to appear in court for their preliminary hearing on Friday, August 8.
