Five members of a Miami Gardens theft ring have entered guilty pleas for a multitude of charges, including drug trafficking, bank fraud, and a mail theft conspiracy that netted them $1.7 million in altered and stolen checks, as per federal court admissions. Their operation, sophisticated in its orchestration, exploited stolen U.S. Postal Service mail keys and counterfeit checks to defraud banks and individuals alike.
Involved in the scheme were Angel Joe Gonzalez, 28; Evens Necler Monestime, 27; David Gonzalez, 23; Cristina Azahares, 27; and Adriana Ginel, 56, whose actions spanned from September 2021 to May 2023, according to a statement obtained by the Department of Justice. Utilizing unauthorized keys to unlock postal boxes, the group pilfered mail, altered checks taken from that mail, and then laundered the funds through various bank accounts.
The authorities were tipped off to the criminal activity when responding to a shots-fired call at the Miami Gardens home of Angel Joe Gonzalez, Azahares, and Monestime on May 3, 2023. Police found a staggering collection of illicit materials including mail, checks, and narcotics at the residence, alongside a range of electronics and firearms. Angel Joe Gonzalez faced additional charges for possession of a firearm connected to drug trafficking after the discovery of more contraband in a vehicle registered in his name…