Two people admit to stealing checks from mail in Clifton, Livingston
Both suspects could face fines and jail time when sentenced.
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Two people are facing potential jail time and fines after pleading guilty to conspiracy to steal checks from the mail.
Leslie Blackwood, 25, of Irvington, and Verly Antenor, 24, of Roselle Park, admitted to conspiring with other individuals to steal checks from the mail in Clifton and Livingston. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the suspects used stolen arrow keys—master keys used by postal workers to access mailboxes—to access collection boxes in both towns and remove mail containing checks.
“To profit from the scheme, Blackwood and Antenor sold, deposited, or caused to be deposited the stolen checks to fraudulently obtain funds from financial institutions,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
In some cases, the pair also “washed” the stolen checks to remove dates, amounts and payee information and replace them with different information and higher dollar amounts. Authorities say the scheme by Blackwood and Antenor led to a loss of more than $670,000.
Antenor and Blackwood could face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 when sentenced.
