Spring mail theft: 19-year-old arrested again after counterfeit mailbox keys and stolen checks found in his car, deputies say

SPRING, Texas (KTRK) — A 19-year-old man now faces federal charges after Harris County Constable Precinct 4 deputies found counterfeit mailbox keys and several stolen checks worth more than $100,000 in his car.

Records show he was convicted of a similar crime last year in Harris County. But why didn't the feds pursue him the first time, and could that have stopped him from becoming a repeat offender?

According to PCT. On Jan. 4, a Postal Police detective notified the Constable's Office Friday of a possible suspect stealing mail from the Wendy's parking lot on Spring Cypress Road near Champion Forest Drive.

Officers said the suspect, Benjamin David Williams, 19, fled the area at a high speed and pursued them for about five miles.

While searching Wiliiams' vehicle, investigators said they found two counterfeit postal keys used to open U.S. Postal Service mailboxes and several checks valued at approximately $100,000.

Amethyst Manning, a business owner in the area, said she was informed Saturday by a federal investigator that some of those checks belonged to her.

She told ABC13 it included a $1,400 check mailed from her office complex, as well as a second set of checks totaling $8,000 from out of state , which led them to believe that the theft had been committed at a central location between the origin and destination addresses.

READ MORE: As Mail Theft Rises, Solutions Come Down to Preventative Measures

Manning said she no longer feels comfortable sending checks through the U.S. Postal Service because this is the second time in a year she has been a victim of mail theft.

The first time, she said someone cleared a $230,000 check she wrote and fraudulently deposited it. Fortunately, she was able to get her money back from the bank.

“This has happened too many times in less than a year. So it's no longer a safe place,” Manning said. “It's a pain because I just canceled one of my other checking accounts for fraud, and I have to start the whole process again. Now I'm always looking for more secure methods like Zelle, ACH, or positive pay.”

Records show Williams was convicted of a similar crime a year ago in Harris County and was placed on probation. However, he was not prosecuted at the federal level.

ABC13 asked the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) why they didn't file charges against Williams the first time, but a spokesperson declined to provide further information about their investigation.

Shawn Boyd of the National Association of Letter Carriers said that's likely due to a lack of money and resources.

According to data obtained from USPIS by 13 investigators, out of approximately 5,000 mail theft complaints last year in Harris County, only 44 arrests were made. Through an open records request, there are 91 postal inspection enforcement officers in Texas.

However, not all 91 agents are investigating the mail full time. In fiscal year 2022, only 37% of postal inspectors worked on mail theft cases, according to last year's USPS Office of Inspector General audit.

READ MORE: 13 Investigations Find 91 Texas Postal Inspectors Despite Thousands of Mail Theft Complaints

“It disgusts me that the federal government doesn't care enough about these employees. We are out on the streets risking their lives, just to deliver mail and packages,” Boyd said. “We need the Department of Justice to step up and prosecute every one of these crimes.”

Boyd said the case was part of a larger problem that wasn't adequately prosecuted: thieves stealing master keys by robbing postal workers, sometimes violently.

He explained that they are seeing these crimes become more aggressive and reckless.

“These criminals are attacking mail carriers while their backs are turned, and they're pointing a gun in their face. We've had employees beaten and even assault rifles used in these robberies,” Boyd said. “Since they are considered federal employees, mail carriers are not permitted to carry any type of weapon for self-defense.”

As a result, Boyd's union has been working on a federal bill that is currently moving through Congress. The Protect Our Mail Carriers Act would ensure funding to install high-security collection boxes, increase prosecution rates for related crimes, and strengthen sentencing guidelines.

Williams was arrested and booked into the Harris County Jail and charged with Eluding a Motor Vehicle. His bond was set at $8,000. Postal Police also filed federal charges against him for two counts of unlawful use of a criminal instrument and possession of identifying information.

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