Two metro-east women sentenced for stealing checks from mailboxes
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Two metro-east women were sentenced to federal prison time for their roles in a three-year scheme to steal checks from mailboxes and use personal banking information from victims to create and cash counterfeit checks.
Tylann J. Starks, 30, of Swansea, was sentenced to four years in federal prison following her guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, three counts of bank fraud, two counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of conspiracy to steal U.S. mail.
Tiara D. Johnson 33, of Pontoon Beach was sentenced to two years and three months in federal prison. She pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of bank fraud and count of conspiracy to steal U. S. mail, according to a news release from the U.S. Court for the Southern District of Illinois.
“Starks and Johnson cashed, deposited or otherwise negotiated the stolen and counterfeit checks at area businesses, banks and ATM machines in Belleville, East St. Louis and O’Fallon,” the indictment against the two states.
There were at least 100 victims affected by the scheme with an estimated loss of more than $100,000, according to the release.
The U.S. Postal service uses “arrow keys” to open mail collection boxes. Each is marked with a serial number for tracking purposes.
According to court documents, Starks purchased an arrow key from Jamil Jackson, 52, a former postal worker who also has been charged in connection with the scheme to access collection boxes throughout the metro-east.
Starks and Johnson used the key to steal checks and personal information from February 2020 through February 2023, according to court records.
Federal agents also purchased an additional arrow key from Jackson for $1,000, according to the release.
Jackson is facing one count of conspiracy to steal U.S. mail, one count of theft of a specialized key to get into U.S. postal receptacles, and one count of making false statements to a federal law enforcement officer. He is scheduled to appear in court on May 13.
Jackson is also accused of stealing checks out of mailboxes was his route and giving them to Johnson as part of the counterfeiting scheme, court records shows.,
“I commend the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Postal Service, Officer of the Inspector General forfeiture solving a difficult case by working with the public to get information, following leads and piecing together the investigation,” said U.S. Attorney Steven Weinhoeft in a statement.”
This story was originally published April 30, 2025 at 12:41 PM.
