More property tax check fraud victims come forward in Napa Co., officials say: 'My stomach dropped'

"Jen Wilkinson at Vineyard 29 in St. Helena mailed in a property tax payment for $206,000, only to find out it did not reach the tax collector. Instead, it was cashed by a business in St. Cloud, Florida, after being washed by fraudsters."

"Napa County Treasurer and Tax Collector Robert Minahan reported that 60 checks were lost in just two days, a significant increase from the usual six checks during that period. The total amount of stolen checks is estimated between $1 and $2 million."

"After the initial report aired, Minahan received calls from three individuals who had mailed checks that never arrived, indicating that the issue may involve interception at a mail processing center rather than simple mailbox theft."

Napa County is facing a significant crisis with over 60 property tax checks reported lost or stolen through check washing fraud. Victims, including a winery that mailed a $206,000 check, discovered their payments were cashed by fraudsters in Florida. The Napa County Treasurer and Tax Collector reported a dramatic increase in lost checks, with totals reaching between $1 and $2 million. More victims have come forward after media coverage, indicating a broader issue of mail interception beyond simple mailbox theft.

Read at ABC7 San Francisco