Two suspected mail thieves are now facing charges after a months-long operation to cease their spree across Ventura County turned up checks, cash, and luxury vehicles, the Ventura County Sheriff's Office reported. Detectives identified Jose Luis Uribe and Joel Cortez Jr. as the alleged ringleaders of a sophisticated operation that utilized fraudulent means to acquire high-end assets and easily convert stolen checks into cash.
The investigation, which sprawled from Los Angeles County to Ventura County, revealed a targeted assault on mailboxes that saw an organized crime ring decidedly pillage for monetary checks. These checks were subsequently cashed using stolen or fake IDs through banks and online services. According to a news release by the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, the suspects also used the fraudulent funds to orchestrate the purchase and possession of various vehicles.
Detectives, with the support of the United States Postal Inspection Service and the California Department of Motor Vehicle Investigations Unit, served a search warrant at the suspects' Montebello residence on December 11, 2025. Authorities apprehended Uribe and Cortez during the raid, which yielded approximately $35,000 in cash, illegal firearms, and several pieces of expensive jewelry and gaming computers. Additionally, vehicles estimated at hundreds of thousands of dollars were seized, including a 2016 Lamborghini Huracan and a 2023 Cadillac Escalade, among others.
The suspects stand charged with mail theft, identity theft, and conspiracy to commit a crime, facing a bail set at $1 million. The Ventura County Sheriff's Office expects to further arrest Uribe and Cortez for vehicle registration fraud, pending the outcomes of DMV investigators' inquiries. Detectives are also seeking public assistance to continue effectively unraveling their extensive mail theft operation.
Community members with any related information are urged to contact Detective Steve Bibian at 805-677-8733 or Detective Evert Ponce at 805-677-8772. Ventura County Crime Stoppers offers up to a $1,000 reward for tips leading to arrests and criminal complaints, with the option for callers to remain anonymous.
