In two separate incidents since March of 2014, ten baggage handlers and JFK workers are responsible for more than $54,000 in thefts from passengers baggage and mail within seven months of each other. File Photo
Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown, together with United States Postal Inspector in Charge Philip R. Bartlett and Port Authority Police Department Chief Security Officer Joseph P. Dunne, today announced that five Queens residents, including baggage handlers whose jobs included loading U.S. mail onto outbound international flights, allegedly stole and/or criminally possessed thousands of dollars worth of money orders bound for Japan, Korea and Greece and depositing them into their own bank accounts.
Queens District Attorney Brown expressed dismay over the fact that people utilizing the United States Postal Service should not be deprived of the service they expect or of their mail reaching its destination safely and in tact.
The defendants were stealing money that was intended for overseas destinations, often intended for family members in other countries. One of the reported thefts was of money intended to pay for a deceased relatives funeral.
Two defendants were apprehended and identified as Kenroy C. Mitchell, 22, of 199th Street in St. Albans and Amanda Mackie, 20, of Caney Road in Rosedale. Three others, including a former baggage handler, are still being sought.
Mitchell was arraigned on third-and fourth-degree grand larceny and third- and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property charges. He is also charged with acting in concert with one of the suspects yet to be apprehended.
Mitchell is accused of stealing more than $25,000 by depositing 33 stolen money orders into his bank account between November 2013 and January 2014. Individuals who sent them via U.S. mail to family and friends in Japan, Korea and Greece had purchased those money orders.
Mitchell was released on his own recognizance and his next date is November 18, 2014. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison.
Mackie was arraigned this week and charged with fourth-degree grand larceny and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property. She allegedly deposited stolen international money orders valued at $2,800 into her own bank account on January 13, 2014 using an ATM machine near her home in Rosedale. The money order was originally mailed to an individual in Japan.
Mackie was released on her own recognizance and is due back in court on November 18, 2014. If convicted, she faces up to four years in prison.
The investigation was launched in response to numerous reports of thefts of money orders from the U.S. mail, specifically mail allegedly being handled by Ground Services International and Swissport USA baggage handlers at JFK International Airport.
According to the criminal complaints, the defendants allegedly deposited the stolen money orders into their own accounts and in some instance wrote their own names over the names of intended recipients.
In March, law enforcement agents came down on another set of baggage handlers at JFK who were pilfering through baggage and stealing credit cards and other valuables from travelers. Coincidentally they to were responsible for thefts totaling around $27,000.
by Forum staff
