In a recent statement obtained by the Queens District Attorney’s Office, a mail theft operation was brought to light, with one Xingqiang Chen at the center of it. The Queens DA, Melinda Katz, illuminated the situation, announcing charges against Chen for grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, and a handful of other crimes. Chen, accused of an audacious scheme, allegedly used forged documents to intercept nearly $80,000 in checks intended for the Metal Lathers Local 46 Benefits Fund, as per the Queens DA's office.
In what can be described as a calculated move, Chen is said to have exploited the postal system to have placed a mail hold on the union’s benefits fund correspondence. According to Katz, “Protecting union workers and safeguarding the integrity of their benefits fund is of the utmost importance to my office. As alleged, the defendant went to great lengths to steal money from the Metal Lathers Local 46 Benefits Fund intended for our city’s construction workforce. Using falsified documentation, he gained access to confidential mail meant for union member benefits and swiped 21 checks that totaled more than $80,000. My office will not allow fraudsters to steal from union members, or any resident, in Queens. Thanks to our diligent partners at the USPIS and the NYPD, the defendant has been apprehended and the money intended to help union members will be returned,” as reported by the Queens DA's office..
Edward Gallashaw of the USPIS showcased the joint efforts in intercepting Chen's operation, stating, “Ensuring public trust in the US Mail is the mission of the Postal Inspection Service. This arrest is one of many examples of the commitment of Postal Inspectors, the NYPD and the Queens District Attorney to ensure the mail is delivered safely to the public. In this case, Mr. Chen allegedly stole checks from the mail that were earmarked for the Pension and Benefits Fund for a local union in Queens. This is a crime that will not go unpunished. Let this be a reminder to criminals: when you steal mail, you will go to jail," as mentioned by the same press release.
As detailed in the original report, Chen, a 29-year-old resident of College Point in Queens, faces severe repercussions if convicted on the top count, with a sentence that could extend to up to 15 years in prison. The intricacies of his alleged crime include using a forged New Jersey driver’s license to initiate the mail hold, a subterfuge ultimately cut short by vigilant law enforcement.
The court drama will continue to unfold as Judge Gonzalez has mandated Chen to return for his day in court on April 29. In the meantime, Assistant District Attorney Jeremy Mo helms the prosecution within the DA’s Major Economic Crimes Bureau, with higher oversight provided by officials within the Queen’s DA’s office.
