The Antelope Valley Times

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Mail carrier from Palmdale arrested in jobless benefits fraud case

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A United States Postal Service mail carrier was arrested Thursday, May 26, for allegedly scheming to steal $800,000 in unemployment insurance funds by using false claims of COVID-related job losses and stealing unemployment debit cards from the U.S. mail.

Stephen Glover, 32, of Palmdale, who worked at the Valencia post office, is charged with one count of mail fraud, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Travis McKenzie, 26, of Valencia, who lived on Glover’s mail delivery route, was also charged with one count of mail fraud.

According to an affidavit filed in the case, from August 2020 to February 2021, Glover and McKenzie fraudulently obtained debit cards issued by the California Employment Development Department, which administers the state’s unemployment insurance program. The debit cards were issued based on applications for pandemic-related unemployment benefits submitted using approximately 50 stolen identities and containing false statements claiming COVID-related job losses, the affidavit states.

The EDD debit cards were issued in the names of victims, some of whom had never resided in, worked in, or even visited California. Glover and McKenzie allegedly split the cash withdrawn using the EDD debit cards, some of which had balances exceeding $30,000, court papers show. The scheme allegedly involved more than 50 fraudulent claims to EDD, which resulted in EDD issuing cards that had $798,733 in funds in those names, of which at least $318,771 has been withdrawn from the debit cards, federal prosecutors said.

Glover also allegedly stole mail containing more than $20,000 in personal and business checks belonging to others.  Law enforcement executed search warrants at Glover’s, McKenzie’s, and Glover’s girlfriend’s residences in the spring of 2021, during which they found more than 200 pieces of stolen and EDD-related mail, including more than 15 EDD debit cards, according to the affidavit.

In addition to defrauding the California EDD, Glover and McKenzie’s scheme also fraudulently obtained debit cards from the Virginia Employment Commission, the affidavit alleges.

If convicted of the mail fraud offense alleged in the complaint, Glover and McKenzie would each face up to 20 years in federal prison, prosecutors noted.

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19 comments for "Mail carrier from Palmdale arrested in jobless benefits fraud case"

  1. Crime and felony criminals are rife within the US Postal Service in the Antelope Valley! Multiple reports by many residents of Mail Theft by USPS Mail carriers to the Post Office and Postal Inspector go ignored, not investigated — but our identities were stolen — along with our money and credit!

    • How do I find out if I am a identity theft victim? I didn’t receive a check & should have.

      • Google ‘report identity theft.’ There is a wide range of resources available to victims of identity theft. You can also contact your local police department for assistance. Good luck.

      • Never received mine either , I live in Palmdale who do we call to find out if this scumbag got my money to ?!?!?!?!

  2. Defraud the Government – A Crime supposedly punishable up to 20 years
    Government Defraud the People -…………….

      • “10% for the big guy.” LOL

        I’m tall, so I’m gonna have T-shirts made saying that. Maybe I can run for POTUS. But with Biden-caused inflation, it should be 20%.

        • I’ll buy one, lol

          It just says 10% for the big guy on the front, I’ll proudly wear that

    • Non-violent white collar crime ripping off the government rather than an individual, doesn’t seem as punishable to me as violent, personal crime. After I read “The Count of Monte Cristo” written by Alexandre Dumas, I never took pleasure for any soul locked in prison again.

      • Don’t you understand, the government is us. These 2 guys stole from us. We pay the taxes…they stole tax money-our money. Is it ok for everyone to do this just because your read a book that is over 100 years old and want to apply it to contemporary times? At least you didn’t drag an older and more fictitious book into it…the bible.

        • All I’m saying is that harming or ripping off an individual rather than the government, bank or corporation would hurt more. And I’m not saying don’t lock them up. Only that I feel for those locked up.

          And maybe you should read more classic books to open your mind a bit, you tight-a$$ed vindictive, insensitive, semi-literate moron.

          • Mail Carriers Should be reporting whenever Mail boxes are damaged or even when people drive up saying they live at residence and lost the mailbox key Since Huge Mailbox Centers in the middle of a block seem to me to be a huge problem because they can’t deliver mail directly to homes anymore Also NOT To Mention The misplaced mail sent to the wrong addresses But Honestly with The World’s Technology why not install cameras and the Mailbox stations Maybe it would help catching more criminals Stealing mail

          • My “block” mail box was vandalized once. I documented it so when I ignore jury duty summonses from LA County, I’ll have an excuse before the judge, lol.

            Pro tip: NEVER, NEVER ignore jury duty summonses from the Feds.