A Kenosha County look into stolen mail in Trevor turned into something much bigger, with deputies uncovering a drug stash and arresting four suspects, according to county law enforcement. A search carried out this week turned up methamphetamine, marijuana and roughly 150 items tied to drug distribution, all spun out of a case that started with reports of stolen and altered checks.
What deputies found
According to FOX6 News Milwaukee, deputies searched a Trevor residence on May 19 and seized meth, marijuana and about 150 items associated with drug distribution. The report states that four people — Tammy Wilton, Thomas Wilton, Alicia Wojtowicz and Frank McClaughry — were arrested and booked on dozens of pending charges. The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office told FOX6 News Milwaukee that detectives also found evidence tying the group to burglaries and other crimes in Illinois as the mail-fraud investigation unfolded.
Charges and jail records
Jail records reviewed by Kenosha County Eye show investigators are recommending a stack of felony counts, including maintaining a drug-trafficking place and possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine. The records also note proposed charges tied to mail theft, possession of burglarious tools and misuse of identifying information. Prosecutors will ultimately decide which charges to file, and the booking entries are still preliminary while the district attorney reviews the investigative packets.
Why mail theft matters
Officials say the case grew out of a fraud probe into stolen checks, a pattern that mirrors a national rise in check fraud linked to mail theft. The U.S. Treasury has flagged an uptick in check fraud tied to stolen mail and urged agencies and the public to favor electronic payments when possible to cut down the risk.
How to check if you were targeted
Anyone who thinks they may have been a victim in this investigation is asked to call the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at 262-656-1234, the sheriff’s office told FOX6 News Milwaukee. Authorities say the probe is still active, and additional charges could follow as detectives chase down new leads.
Protecting your mail
Federal guidance suggests a few simple habits to reduce your chances of getting hit: sign up for USPS Informed Delivery, place a hold on your mail when you are out of town and use secure post office drop slots instead of leaving checks or sensitive documents in a home mailbox. The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General warns that stolen or altered checks remain a growing source of bank fraud and urges people to report suspicious activity quickly to local law enforcement and the Postal Inspection Service.
Next steps
As of Tuesday evening, formal criminal complaints had not yet been filed, Kenosha County Eye reports. If prosecutors move ahead, the defendants will appear in Kenosha County Circuit Court for arraignment. Jail booking information remains subject to change and may not match the final list of charges that prosecutors ultimately file.
