After a months long investigation, two men are facing charges after they allegedly broke into a cluster mailbox in Katy back in August. KPRC 2 Investigates first started reporting on this problem in Katy earlier this year.
Marquice Dale, 19, and Jermiah Gamez, 18, were charged with unlawful carrying a gun in a motor vehicle and evading arrest. Both have been arrested this summer.
However, the Postal Inspection Service did not file mail charges at the time of their arrest. Now, the Harris County DA’s Office said they have issued warrants and filed felony charges against the two.
The United States Postal Service and federal investigators are looking to give stricter penalties in this case.
“I do think mail theft is a serious problem. It’s something we take very seriously in the DA’s office,” said Mike Levine, Harris County Prosecutor.
Both alleged thieves were caught stealing from business mailboxes at Provincial Professional Park on Kingsland Boulevard in Katy.
Surveillance video showed the alleged thieves stealing mail night after night. Investigators said they were looking for debit cards, credit cards, and checks.
“Our office working together with those federal investigators was able to put together three new cases that were indicted Monday,” Levine said. “Those two defendants are now charged with third-degree felony mail theft. It carries a potential penalty of two to ten years at the Texas Department of Corrections, so it’s a serious offense.”
Authorities were also able to identify a third suspect connected to the case. He was identified as Kevonne Hyde, 23. According to jail records, Hyde is currently behind bars.
“There was a third person identified who seems to have cashed a $21,000 stolen check,” Levine added.
Levine says these new developments in the case should serve as a warning to anyone bold enough to steal mail.
“It doesn’t always happen immediately, but these cases are being worked aggressively, they are being worked in conjunction and good cooperation with state, local, and federal law enforcement, and if you’re stealing mail, we are going to catch up with you and the penalty is going to be severe,” he said.
The U.S. Postal Service steps up security measures in Houston and across the country
The USPS is in the process of cracking down on mail theft after launching new crime prevention measures earlier this year. ‘Project Safe Delivery’ is a national effort that started in May.
- 12,000 high-security blue collection Boxes are being installed nationwide. The Postal Service is hardening blue collection boxes making access to the contents more difficult for criminals. These boxes are being deployed in high-security risk areas, including Houston.
- Reducing Letter Carrier Robberies and Mail Theft. As part of Project Safe Delivery, USPS and USPIS are taking action to harden physical targets against criminal activity and reduce criminal acts against postal employees including:
- 49,000 Electronic Locks to Replace Antiquated Arrow Locks. Robberies often target letter carriers for their Arrow and Modified Arrow Lock (MAL) Keys. Criminals use Arrow and MAL keys to steal mail from secure mail receptacles to commit financial crimes, including altering checks to commit check fraud. To make Arrow Keys less valuable for criminals, the Postal Service is replacing 49,000 antiquated arrow locks with electronic locks. New locks are being installed in Houston and other select cities. So far, 6,500 antiquated arrow locks have been replaced nationwide.