Two Naperville Mail Carriers, 2 of 5 Accomplices Charged in Credit Card Theft, Money Laundering Scheme

40 Victims, Mostly in Naperville; Bond Set for Four of Seven Charged with Continuing Financial Crimes Enterprise Involving U.S. Postal Service

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin, Naperville Interim Chief of Police Jason Arres and Special Agent-in-Charge Andre Martin, Great Lakes Area Field Office, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General announced today that seven individuals, including two former U.S. postal carriers, who had been active mail carriers in Naperville, have been charged in a financial crimes and money laundering scheme involving the United States Postal Service.

Named in the eleven-count indictment, which was filed in DuPage County on September 16, 2021, are:

Vosheaa Haynes, age 36, of the 1400 block of Andover Drive, Aurora;

Shavonna Taylor (US Mail Carrier), age 33, of the 1100 block of Brockton Court, Aurora;

Ariel Jakes (US Mail Carrier), age 21, of the 500 block of Chamberlain Lane, Naperville;

Deyona Tucker, age 30, of the 4000 block of W. Gladys Avenue, Chicago;

Laketha Britton, age 27, of the 1100 block of N. Harding Avenue, Chicago;

Octavia May, age 29, of the 100 block of Highpoint Drive, Romeoville and

Stephanie Brown, age 35, of the 1200 block of N. Lockwood Avenue, Chicago.

On September 23, 2021, Haynes was taken into custody by the Naperville Police Department. She posted the necessary 10% of her $250,000 arrest warrant, or $25,000, and was released the same day. Haynes has been charged with …

two counts of Organizer of a Continuing Financial Crimes Enterprise (Class X Felony),

two counts of Continuing Financial Crimes Enterprise (Class 1 Felony), one count of Mail Fraud (Class 3 Felony),

three counts of Wire Fraud (Class 3 Felony) and

three counts of Identity Theft (one Class 1 Felony and two Class 2 Felonies).

Taylor, Jakes and Brown were also taken into custody by the Naperville Police Department that same day on arrest warrants of $100,000 with 10% to apply. Jakes and Brown posted the necessary 10%, or $10,000, and were released the same day. Taylor posted bond on September 28, 2021, and was released from custody.

All defendants other than Haynes have been charged with

Continuing Financial Crimes Enterprise and

Identity Theft.

Additionally, Taylor and Jakes have been charged with

Mail Fraud and

Wire Fraud.

All bonds were set in accordance with previously issued arrest warrants. Outstanding $100,000 with 10% to apply arrest warrants are in effect for Tucker, Britton and May. Judge O’Connell also granted the State’s motion for a source of funds hearing for Taylor at which the defendant must prove that any funds used for bond were not illegally obtained. Defendants Taylor and Jakes were active postal carriers at the time of the alleged scheme.

Allegedly, as part of a scheme to launder illicit gift cards by redeeming them for United States currency, postal carriers Taylor and Jakes, who deliver mail throughout Naperville, stole credit/debit cards from the mail and gave them to Haynes. Allegedly, Haynes and other defendants would then activate the stolen credit/debit cards and use them to purchase Visa/MasterCard gift cards from various stores, including Home Depot, Walmart, and Sam’s Club. Allegedly, Haynes and other defendants would then take the gift cards to currency exchanges in Chicago and Oak Park, where they would then redeem them for United States currency. The alleged scheme was uncovered when credit/debit card companies mailed new credit/debit cards to victims whose credit/debit cards were due to expire. When none of the victims received their new credit/debit cards, it was determined that they were allegedly stolen out of the mail. Allegedly, the amount of money swindled from the victims, most of whom live in Naperville, exceeds $50,000, divided between approximately forty victims.

“The charges against these seven individuals are the direct result of local and federal agencies working together for the common good,” Berlin said. “The allegations that these seven individuals, two of whom were employees of the federal government, stole victims’ identities in an attempt to line their own pockets at the expense of others are very disturbing. I want to stress however, that the alleged involvement of two active postal carriers is in no way indicative of the outstanding men and women of the U.S. Postal Service who perform their duties with pride and professionalism on a daily basis to ensure the smooth operations of the postal service on which we all rely. I thank the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General as well as the Naperville Police Department for uncovering this alleged scheme and bringing it to our attention for prosecution. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorney Steven Lupa for his work in unraveling this elaborate scheme.”

“This was outstanding work by our investigations personnel, and I want to thank them all for their commitment to solving this long-term case and seeking justice for the victims,” said Interim Police Chief Jason Arres. “Complex investigations like this aren’t possible without interagency cooperation, so I’d also like to thank the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office for their involvement.”

Special Agent-in-Charge Andre Martin, Great Lakes Area Field Office, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General said, “These arrests represent our commitment to work with our law enforcement partners to maintain the integrity and trust in the U.S. Mail. The majority of postal employees are hard-working public servants dedicated to moving mail to its proper destination. Unfortunately, those arrested decided to betray the public’s trust and steal mail from postal customers. The USPS OIG, along with the law enforcement community, remain committed to safeguarding the integrity of the U.S. Mail and ensuring the accountability and integrity of U.S. Postal Service employees.”

All defendants’ cases will be in front of Judge O’Connell.

Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendants’ guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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