Mass. men sentenced to prison for mail theft, check fraud scheme

"From at least June 2023 through February 2024, Rios-Franco, Baez, and multiple unnamed co-conspirators stole mailed checks from USPS collection boxes, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. They then washed the hand-written ink from the checks "using commercially available chemicals." The stolen checks were reissued to the co-conspirators or other bank accounts that they controlled and fraudulently deposited, according to prosecutors. The defendants and their co-conspirators then withdrew the fraudulently obtained funds from ATMs or through money orders."

"Imanol Rios-Franco, 26, of Canton, and Brandon Baez, 23, of North Attleborough, both pleaded guilty in November 2025 to bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and conspiracy to steal and possess stolen mail, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts said in a statement. Rios-Franco was sentenced Feb. 10 to 35 months in prison, followed by one year of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $12,528 in restitution, according to prosecutors."

"Baez was sentenced Feb. 12 to two years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $10,285 in restitution, prosecutors said. Investigators reviewed the co-conspirators' cellphones and found that they had collaborated to plan the scheme together, prosecutors said. From at least June 2023 through February 2024, Rios-Franco, Baez, and multiple unnamed co-conspirators stole mailed checks from USPS collection boxes, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office."

Two Massachusetts men, Imanol Rios-Franco and Brandon Baez, pleaded guilty to bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and conspiracy to steal and possess stolen mail. From June 2023 through February 2024, they and multiple co-conspirators stole mailed checks from USPS collection boxes and washed the hand-written ink from the checks using commercially available chemicals. The altered checks were reissued to co-conspirators or bank accounts controlled by the conspirators and fraudulently deposited. The conspirators withdrew the fraudulently obtained funds from ATMs and by purchasing money orders. Investigators reviewed co-conspirators' cellphones and found coordinated planning of the scheme. Rios-Franco received 35 months in prison and restitution; Baez received two years and restitution.

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