Raids around the Houston area are part of a two-week-long surge targeting mail theft and fraud which investigators say often funds other criminal activity .
HOUSTON, Texas — KHOU 11 was the only station on the scene Thursday during a raid by U.S. Postal Inspectors of what they called an illegal game room just off the Westpark Tollway.
While gaming machines were visible through the forcibly entered front door, agents were primarily after evidence of mail theft and fraud.
Officials told us profits from those operations are often used to fund other crimes.
“Over the past two weeks, we’ve seized firearms, we’ve seized narcotics, we’ve seized, you know, financial documents,” said Houston USPIS Houston Inspector in Charge Shameka Jackson.
Jackson spoke on our morning show about the aim of a targeted two-week-long crackdown.
“To dismantle organized criminal networks that are tied to these illegal game rooms and their associated activity, and that includes mail theft as well as financial crimes,” Jackson said.
“That’s good to hear,” said former Houston Chronicle crime reporter Eric Hanson.
Hanson became the subject of a story we did after checks he sent in the mail were intercepted and washed, then used to temporarily wipe out one of his bank accounts.
“I haven’t mailed a check since then,” said Hanson. “That was in October. I haven’t mailed anything since — no checks.”
Hanson even did what officials suggest, and that’s to send checks or other important documents from inside physical post offices.
“But now, you’re not even safe at the post office,” said Hanson. “So, it’s good to hear the postal authorities are really clamping down on this.”
While the special operation may be ending, postal inspectors say efforts will continue to try and deliver more arrests related to mail theft.
Meanwhile, advice for you includes promptly picking up mail and packages and avoid sending checks or cash in the mail.
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