ST. LOUIS – Four people, including a former U.S. Postal Service employee, have pleaded guilty to federal charges for stealing checks from St. Louis-area mail.
The U.S. Department of Justice reports the following four individuals have pleaded guilty in a conspiracy to steal checks from mail and commit bank fraud:
- Johnathan Barnett, 29, of University City, Missouri
- Wynter Hinton, 29, of St. Ann, Missouri
- Ryan McKinney, 24, of St. Louis, Missouri
- Jayden Burklow, 21, of O’Fallon, Illinois
Investigators say the four were involved a conspiracy from January of 2022 to September of 2023 to steal checks from the mail and alter the checks to defraud banks.
According to a plea agreement, Barnett bought a key to U.S. Postal Service collection boxes from a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier, Wynter Hinton.
After that, Barnett and two others (McKinney and Burklow) reportedly used that key to open collections boxes in St. Louis County and steal mail. Hinton also stole checks from the mail while on her postal route.
Investigators say that Barnett, Burklow and McKinney altered personal and business checks they found in the mail to create counterfeit checks. They recruited others to allow their bank accounts to be used to deposit the fraudulent checks. The conspirators then withdrew the money before the banks realized the checks were fraudulent. Barnett, Burklow and McKinney admitted trying to commit at least $800,000 worth of fraud through the scheme.
The investigation led authorities to Barnett’s home in September 2023, when he reportedly tried to flee through a window with an AR-15-style rifle with a high-capacity drum magazine loaded with 76 rounds. Four other firearms were found in his home, as well as check-making equipment.
“The sentencing in this case illustrates that individuals who engage in mail theft will be held accountable for their actions,” said Ruth Mendonca, Inspector in Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which includes the St. Louis Field Office. “The Inspection Service is proud to work with our local, state and federal partners to bring Mail Theft perpetrators to justice and prevent financial crimes targeting local citizens, postal customers, and financial institutions.”
Barnett pleaded guilty in December to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of possession of stolen mail and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced Tuesday to six years and eight months (80 months) to federal prison and ordered to pay $44,000 in restitution.
Hinton and McKinney both pleaded guilty Wednesday. Hinton pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a mail key and McKinney pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of possession of stolen mail. They are scheduled to be sentenced in July.
Burklow pleaded guilty in March to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of possession of stolen mail. He is scheduled to be sentenced in June.