Three Rochester residents, Lamarious Bradley, Lucius Bradley, and Chad Brown, have been arrested and charged in connection with a series of postal thefts and an alleged bank fraud conspiracy. The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo and include mail theft, unlawful possession of USPS mailbox keys, and conspiracy to commit bank fraud. If convicted, the defendants could face up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, the investigation began on November 28, 2023, when U.S. Postal Service inspectors were notified that blue collection boxes had been opened during early morning hours in Irondequoit and Brighton, New York. Surveillance footage from both locations showed a vehicle and three men at the scene.
A similar incident occurred on December 4, 2023, when mail was taken from a collection box in Irondequoit. Video surveillance again captured the same vehicle and three individuals.
On December 7, 2023, law enforcement executed search warrants at a residence linked to the suspects’ vehicle as well as at the vehicle itself and at Exclusive Snacks and Lounge—a location visited by the suspects after one of the alleged thefts. At the residence, inspectors found approximately $1,400 in money orders along with numerous checks not made out to any of the defendants. Investigators contacted several owners of these checks who confirmed they had deposited them into blue collection boxes.
During their search inspectors also recovered a handgun, ammunition, and marijuana. Video reviewed from inside Exclusive Snacks and Lounge showed four people sorting what appeared to be hundreds of pieces of mail; one was identified as Lamarius Bradley. Further investigation uncovered text messages between defendants discussing details of the thefts.
The three men appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen for their initial court appearance. Lamarious Bradley and Lucius Bradley were released under certain conditions while Chad Brown remains detained.
The case is being investigated by multiple agencies including the United States Postal Inspection Service (Boston Division), Greece Police Department, Brighton Police Department, Irondequoit Police Department, and Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo emphasized: “The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.”
