VENTURA COUNTY, Calif., Two guys from Montebello are officially in handcuffs after police cracked a major organized crime ring. These guys have been accused of running a months-long operation, stealing mail and checks right out of U.S. Postal Service collection boxes across Ventura and Los Angeles counties. This wasn't some petty theft. This was a sophisticated, high-stakes operation.
šļø Targeting the Rich Neighborhoods
The whole thing started blowing up after a sudden spike in mail thefts, especially checks, in the Ojai area. The Ventura County Sheriff's Office quickly figured out these crimes were all connected to a highly organized group that was hitting up different parts of Ventura County.
Detectives from the Ojai Unit and the West County Special Enforcement Unit put the pieces together. They identified the two alleged organizers: a 20-year-old and a 27-year-old, both from Montebello. The police say these guys specifically targeted affluent communities, which are the rich neighborhoods, in both Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
šø The Scam: Fake IDs and Bank Accounts
So, what were they doing with all the stolen mail? According to the Sheriff's Office, the thieves were stealing checks and then cashing them. They did this using either IDs they had also stolen or fake IDs. They were hitting up various banks all across Southern California, either in person or through online banking. This whole scam resulted in several thousand dollars in losses for the victims.
But they weren't just saving the money. Police found that the two men were allegedly using the stolen cash to buy or illegally get their hands on luxury and high-end performance cars. These expensive vehicles were then being used as getaway cars during the actual mail thefts in Ventura County. This shows a seriously bold and reckless level of criminal activity, driving around in a $237,000 Lamborghini to steal checks from a mailbox.
š The Epic Seizure: Cash and Supercars
The case blew wide open on December 11. Detectives served a search warrant at the home the pair shared in Montebello. What they found inside was absolutely insane.
Here is a list of the insane stuff police seized:
- About $35,000 in cold hard cash.
- Hundreds of checks that they think are stolen.
- Illegal firearms, which is a huge concern.
- Lots of expensive jewelry.
- Multiple gaming computers.
- A fleet of luxury and performance vehicles:* A 2016 Lamborghini Huracan worth about $237,000.
- A 2017 Audi RS7 worth about $129,500.
- A 2023 Cadillac Escalade worth about $90,000.
- A 2021 Cadillac Escalade worth about $80,000.
- A 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon worth about $91,000.
- A 2019 Mini Cooper Countryman worth about $27,000.
- A 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor Conversion worth about $20,000.
- An ATV, or a four wheeler, of an unknown make and model.
š Charges and Next Steps
Both men were immediately taken into custody and booked. They are facing big charges right now, including mail theft, identity theft, and conspiracy to commit a crime.
The drama isn't over yet. Detectives plan to hit them with even more charges, specifically for vehicle registration fraud, once the DMV finishes its part of the investigation. The U.S. Postal Service has also stepped in to make the mailboxes they targeted more secure.
The police investigation into this major mail theft organization is still rolling, and detectives are asking anyone with more information to call them right away. This massive bust shows just how far people will go for easy money and a life of luxury, all at the expense of regular people's mail