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Illegal Immigrant Accused Of Cashing Stolen Checks
Postal Service Says Checks Stolen Out Of Mailboxes

POSTED: 5:49 pm EDT March 28, 2007
UPDATED: 6:19 pm EDT March 28, 2007

MALDEN, Mass. -- Police said they've arrested the man they believe is responsible for stealing checks from mailboxes all over eastern Massachusetts.

NewsCenter 5's Jack Harper reported Wednesday that officials said the thief cashed the checks, leaving the unsuspecting victims with unpaid bills and calls from creditors.

Alexander Ricardo Felix, an illegal immigrant from Brazil, was accused of cashing several of the stolen checks. Officials said he cashed checks in at least 12 towns.

"Checks that were being put in people's mailboxes were being stolen from the mailboxes," said Richard Atwood, of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. "The residents were putting their checks out, hoping that the letter carrier would pick it up. Unfortunately, they were taken from their mailboxes before the letter carrier arrived."

Felix was photographed at a Malden Citizens Bank, allegedly depositing a stolen check. Officials said that he was then photographed at a North Reading bank. It took weeks to put a name to the photo.

Officials said that Felix named friends who he said were responsible.

"At the ATMs you don't (need an ID), because all you do is make the deposit at the ATMs and immediately withdraw the funds," Atwood said.

Felix was held on $12,000 bail.