Man Sentenced In $68,000 Mail Theft, Check Fraud Scheme

A Missouri man was sentenced July 24 to nearly two years in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy that stole thousands of dollars from local residents and businesses by raiding their mailboxes and using stolen checks in a widespread fraud scheme.

U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk sentenced 41-year-old Matthew Cahill to 23 months in prison and ordered him to repay $30,737 to victims. Cahill pleaded guilty in February to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and four counts of bank fraud.

Between February 2020 and September 2021, Cahill and multiple co-conspirators stole checks, bank account details, and personally identifiable information by targeting outgoing or delivered mail in mailboxes, homes, and vehicles across the region. They then altered the checks — often changing the payee or amount — or created counterfeit checks using stolen financial information. The fraud caused an actual and intended loss of $67,807, federal prosecutors said.

In one case, Cahill also electronically accessed a victim’s bank account and made an unauthorized online payment to an associate through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) system.

“The sentencing in this case illustrates that individuals who engage in mail theft will be held accountable for their actions,” said Ruth Mendonça, Inspector in Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which oversees the St. Louis Field Office. “The Inspection Service is proud to work with our law enforcement partners to prevent financial crimes that target local citizens and institutions.”

Cahill is one of four individuals convicted in the case:

Donald Anderson, 36, was sentenced to 24 months in prison and ordered to repay $26,527 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and three counts of bank fraud. He will also serve five years of supervised release.

Joshua Hopkins, 36, pleaded guilty to two counts of bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. He was sentenced to 24 months in prison and three years of supervised release, and ordered to repay $1,395.

Harvey Hale, 48, was sentenced to 12 months in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of bank fraud. He must repay $19,550 to victims.

The fraud scheme targeted both individuals and small businesses, many of whom were unaware their information had been stolen until fraudulent checks or electronic payments appeared on their accounts. Investigators say the operation exploited gaps in mail security to commit sophisticated financial crimes that spanned multiple jurisdictions.

“Mail theft is no longer a petty offense — it has become a gateway to complex fraud schemes that directly impact our communities,” Mendonça added. “This case is an example of why these crimes are taken seriously and prosecuted aggressively.”

The case was investigated by a coalition of agencies, including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Secret Service, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, and the police departments of Washington, Union, Eureka, St. Clair, and St. Charles.