By: Richard L. Smith
Federal authorities have charged three men in connection with an alleged mail-theft and bank-fraud conspiracy that investigators say targeted postal collection boxes and mail trucks across Northern New Jersey.
The charges were announced by Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello. 
Charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to commit bank fraud are Jeffrey Bennett, also known as “Bizz” and “Riley Smith,” 31, of Irvington and Rahway; Aquil Hubbard, 31, of Middlesex and Newark; and Tashon Ragan, also known as “Ta,” 26, of Union.
All three defendants made their initial court appearances in Newark federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa and were ordered detained pending further proceedings.
According to court filings and statements made during the proceedings, the alleged conspiracy spanned from December 2024 through December 2025. Prosecutors say the men worked together to steal mail and packages from United States Postal Service collection boxes and postal vehicles, focusing on checks and other financial instruments.
Investigators allege the group altered stolen checks and attempted to deposit them at various financial institutions throughout New Jersey.
Authorities further claim the suspects used social media to recruit bank account holders to help move the stolen funds.
The investigation also linked the defendants to a series of smash-and-grab thefts involving postal vehicles across Northern New Jersey.
In those incidents, authorities said, members of the group either broke vehicle windows or accessed unlocked doors to remove trays of mail—sometimes in broad daylight while postal carriers were away making deliveries.
The charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud carries a potential sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison, along with a fine of up to $1 million or twice the amount of the gain or loss involved, whichever is greater.