Three Charged in Widespread Bank Fraud & Thefts from USPS

Federal complaint alleges year-long conspiracy targeting postal mail across Northern New Jersey, including check fraud and social media recruitment

Three men from Union, Essex, and Middlesex counties have been charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud for allegedly orchestrating a scheme to steal mail from U.S. Postal Service collection boxes and delivery vehicles across Northern New Jersey, federal prosecutors announced January 12.

Jeffrey Bennett, also known as “Bizz” and “Riley Smith,” 31, of Irvington and Rahway; Aquil Hubbard, 31, of Middlesex and Newark; and Tashon Ragan, also known as “Ta,” 26, of Union, were arrested and made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa in Newark federal court. All three defendants were ordered detained pending further proceedings.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the alleged conspiracy spanned from December 2024 to December 2025. Prosecutors say the three men systematically stole mail and packages from public USPS collection boxes and from unsecured or forcibly entered postal vehicles. The defendants allegedly targeted mail for valuable contents, including checks and financial instruments, which they altered and attempted to deposit at banks throughout New Jersey.

Investigators also linked the trio to a series of daylight smash-and-grab thefts from postal vehicles. In several instances, conspirators reportedly broke windows or accessed unlocked doors to remove trays of mail while postal workers were making deliveries. Prosecutors allege the defendants used social media to recruit bank account holders to facilitate fraudulent deposits and withdrawals.

The federal charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine, or twice the financial gain or loss associated with the offense, whichever is greater.

The investigation was led by postal inspectors from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Philadelphia Division, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher Nielsen. Additional support came from the USPS Office of Inspector General’s Northeast Area Field Office, the U.S. Secret Service (Newark Field Office), and multiple local law enforcement agencies across Morris, Essex, Union, and Middlesex counties. These included the police departments of Bernards, Belleville, Chatham Borough, Clifton, East Hanover, Maplewood, Middlesex, Metuchen, Nutley, Parsippany, Rahway, Roseland, and Union.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael K. O’Leary of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s General Crimes Unit in Newark.

The charges remain allegations at this stage, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.