Two Chicago men have been handed federal prison sentences for their roles in a scheme, involving stolen U.S. Postal Service arrow keys, to pilfer mail and packages from city residents. 44-year-old Thaddeus J. Harper and 39-year-old Joseph T. Solomon found themselves at the mercy of the judicial system earlier this week after their exploits were unraveled by an investigation coined "Operation Broken Arrow."
The U.S. Attorney's Office reported that Solomon was nabbed in Indiana after a high-speed car chase in a stolen U-Haul, while Harper was discovered to have used a duplicate arrow key to enter several Chicago residences in 2021 and made off with goods as well as checks worth $2,500. The arrow keys in question are specialized tools giving postal workers access to a multitude of mail and parcel boxes across Chicago and its surrounding suburbs.
Harper, hailing from Country Club Hills, Ill., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman to 20 months, while Solomon, a Norridge, Ill., resident received a two-year sentence from U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Kendall. The charges, which they both pleaded guilty to earlier this year, included the unlawful possession of a U.S. Postal Service key, which under federal law is illegal.
"It is illegal under federal law to possess a stolen or reproduced key suited to a U.S. Postal Service lock," Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual was quoted, in the official statements. "We will continue to work with our federal and local law enforcement partners to hold accountable anyone who unlawfully possesses such a key or steals from the mail." This austere warning underscores the collaborative effort between federal and local entities, including the substantial assistance of the Chicago Police Department and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, in rectifying the infractions against the mail service.
The concerted crackdown reflects the unwavering dedication of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to safeguard the sanctity and security of U.S. mail, a sentiment echoed by Inspector-in-Charge Ruth Mendonça. "The safety and security of the U.S. mail and its customers are core to the mission of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service," Mendonça confirmed, emphasizing the aggressive investigatory measures against such criminal activities and the protection of individuals and businesses from mail-related fraud and theft.
