A routine traffic stop over a stolen license plate led to a far more serious investigation that uncovered what police call a mail theft operation. A couple in Texas were arrested after officers and investigators found hundreds of stolen mail in their vehicle and residences. In fact, they recovered so much evidence that detectives are still sorting through all the documents and parcels as they reach out to every affected victim.
Thieving couple caught with firearms, stolen credit cards, and more
On September 15 in the early morning, officers detained 37-year-old Sean Christopher Martinez and 33-year-old Skylar Cheri Carter and “discovered nearly 400 pieces of stolen mail and parcels” in their vehicle, according to a post by the Hollywood Park Police Department in Texas on its official Facebook page.
The couple was initially stopped near the 1000 block of N. Loop 1604 E after officers discovered that the license plate on the vehicle was stolen. While the thieves were detained, a subsequence search of the vehicle uncovered more than just the hundreds of stolen mail. They also found burglary tools, narcotics, counterfeit postal master keys, vehicle diagnostic theft devices, and a loaded firearm.
Following the traffic stop, Hollywood Park Police further searched Martinez’s residence as well as a hotel room connected to the couple. Along with additional stolen mail, including checks, identity documents, and credit cards, they found an “AR-15-style rifle,” a “ghost” handgun kit, and equipment involved in forging counterfeit identification documents. If that wasn’t enough, they uncovered more counterfeit postal box keys and “additional quantities of methamphetamine.”
Images of the collected evidence in this case reveal the extent of their mail theft operation. It shows four firearms, ammunition, about 40 credit cards, and multiple stacks of mail belonging to dozens of different addresses.
Police reached out to U.S. Secret Service for assistance due to the volume of collected evidence
Both Martinez and Carter were taken into custody and booked into the Bexar County Detention Center. The couple faces a long list of felony charges, such as mail theft, felon in possession of a firearm, fraudulent use or possession of identifying information, unlawful conduct involving mail receptacle keys or locks, and drug possession.
That said, detectives found that this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to their rap sheet. Police say that publicly available court records show that Carter has been arrested in connection with 15 other offenses, while Martinez has been arrested in connection with 24 offenses.
The post includes a notification to victims explaining that law enforcement is still in the process of cataloguing and sorting the stolen credit cards, mail, checks, and identity documents. The sheer volume of recovered evidence has required the Hollywood Park Police Department to reach out to other police agencies, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Secret Service South Texas Cyber Fraud Task Force.
Affected victims will be contacted directly while evidence is processed, meaning that police will not be able to confirm by telephone whether a specific person, address, or piece of mail is associated with the investigation. They suggest that anyone who is concerned that their mail or personal information has been compromised place a credit freeze or fraud alert on their accounts. Law enforcement is asking anyone with more information on the case to contact the Hollywood Park Police Department and reference case number #26-3793.
Commenters of Facebook praised the police for keeping their streets safe. One wrote, “Great job! I love that HPPD patrols the access roads as well as the neighborhood. The strong police presence is appreciated and clearly pays off.”
Another hopes that their mail wasn’t impacted after learning about the story: “The mailboxes at my apartment were broken into that same night. Mail with my name on it could possibly be some of what these jerks stole.”
