Georgia and Florida Residents Charged in Stolen Mail Scheme

Two men have been separately charged with possession of mail that had been stolen from various condominium complexes throughout Broward County, Florida.

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida and Ronald J. Verrochio, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Miami Division, made the announcement.

Anthony Bouquette, 24, of Valdosta, Georgia, was charged by indictment with four counts of possession of stolen mail,  in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1708 and 2.   James Mathurin, 24, of Fort Lauderdale, was charged by information with two counts of possession of stolen mail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1708 and 2.   If convicted, each defendant faces up to five years in prison.

According to information contained in the court records, from February through September 2011, the defendants possessed mail that had been stolen from various apartment complexes in Broward County, including locations in Deerfield Beach, Lauderhill, Sunrise and Wilton Manors.  The defendants and other individuals possessed checks that had been made out to businesses and stolen from the condominium complex mail receptacles.  The defendants separately deposited the stolen checks into accounts at local banks.  The defendants’ unauthorized conduct caused both the check writer and the intended business recipient to sustain a financial loss.

Mathurin is scheduled to have his initial appearance on October 7, 2015 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry S. Seltzer and is scheduled for a change of plea hearing on October 8, 2015 in front of U.S. District Judge James I. Cohn.  Bouquette’s initial appearance date has not yet been scheduled.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the USPIS. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Katz.

An indictment or information is only an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

 Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.