Three Cedar Rapids Men Sent to Federal Prison for Counterfeiting, Possessing Stolen U.S. Mail, and Identify Theft

Three men were sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to counterfeiting U.S. currency, possessing stolen U.S. mail, and aggravated identity theft.  The men stole U.S. mail from dozens of mailboxes in the Cedar Rapids area, altered the payee names on checks, often to their own names, and then fraudulently cashed the checks. 

Joshua Chalk, age 31, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was sentenced today to 36 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release.  Chalk was also ordered to make $11,463.45 in restitution to the victims of his crimes.  Chalk received the prison term after pleading guilty on July 17, 2017, to manufacturing counterfeit currency and aggravated identity theft.  At his plea hearing, Chalk admitted he manufactured a $100 bill in March 2017.  Chalk was making counterfeit currency to purchase pizza and other items.  Chalk provided counterfeit bills to his girlfriend, who ordered the pizza.  Chalk also admitted he participated in a larger bank fraud scheme with Kevin Kappmeyer and Darrell Turner to remove checks from stolen U.S. mail, alter the payee names on the checks, and then attempt to cash those checks.  Chalk admitted he presented an altered check on December 26, 2016, at a local check cashing company, with his own name as the payee.

Darrell Turner, age 50, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was sentenced on October 26, 2017, to 38 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release.  Turner was also ordered to make $7,271.13 in restitution to the victims of his crimes.  Turner received the prison term after pleading guilty on April 18, 2017, to possession of stolen mail matter and aggravated identity theft.  At his plea hearing, Turner admitted he participated in the stolen mail scheme with Chalk and Kappmeyer.  Turner admitted he tried to cash one of the altered checks, bearing his own name as the payee, on January 6, 2017, at a local bank.

Kevin Kappmeyer, age 51, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was sentenced on February 15, 2018, to 40 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release.  Kappmeyer was also ordered to make $2,680.82 in restitution.  Kappmeyer received the prison term after pleading guilty on June 28, 2017, to possession of stolen mail matter and aggravated identity theft.  At his plea hearing, Kappmeyer admitted he participated in the stolen mail scheme.  Kappmeyer admitted he possessed a check that was stolen from the mail.  Kappmeyer cashed the check, bearing his own name as payee, on January 4, 2017.

The men were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Linda R. Reade.  Judge Reade increased the sentences of Turner and Kappmeyer because of their “horrible” criminal histories.  Turner’s criminal activity stretches back to 1985, when he 18 years old. Turner has numerous convictions for theft and forgery.  He also has 12 past violations or revocations of work release, probation, or parole in state court.  Kappmeyer’s criminal activity stretches back to 1981, when he was 14 years old.  Kappmeyer has convictions from four states: Iowa, Colorado, Wisconsin, and Florida.  Kappmeyer has convictions for assault and drunk driving.

Chalk, Turner, and Kappmeyer were all held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they could be transported to a federal prison.  There is no parole in the federal system. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tim Vavricek and was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, and the Marion Police Department.  

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file numbers are 17-CR-17-LRR, 17-CR-44-LRR, and 17-CR-47-LRR.

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