Leader of Milwaukee mail theft ring indicates intent to plead guilty

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MILWAUKEE – The so-called “gift” of a criminal network accused of robbing mail carriers in Milwaukee County and check laundering signaled his intention to plead guilty to federal charges.

Wisconsin prosecutors charged 14 members of the so-called “swindler” for extortion a year ago. Federal prosecutors have already charged eight of those men, and many of them are already serving time in prison.

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Accused of ‘fraud’

Between October 2022 and April 2023, mail was stolen from about 50 mailboxes. coast and milwaukeeThe northeast side. Court documents say “Scamily” robbed mail carriers at gunpoint and used stolen keys to break into mailboxes.

When the police raided a house in Harambee neighborhood of Milwaukee in January 2023, prosecutors said they found guns, drugs, cash and arrow keys stolen in December 2022. Boxes of blank checks, mail, acetone to remove ink from checks and 900 checks from 42 different locations , in the name of hundreds of people, for a total of more than $500,000. They also found “Scamily” brand merchandise.

Prosecutors said Huria Abu, 22, was the leader of the “Scamily” network.

Federal charges

Federal prosecutors brought charges against eight men.

Since then, six men have pleaded guilty in their federal cases and are currently serving time in federal prison: Abdi Abdi, Darrion Allison, Anterian Williams, Jessie Cook, Kaperion Gatson and Abdi Baba.

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Statement from the postman who was robbed at gunpoint

In the federal sentencing for one of the defendants, a mail carrier wrote: “I enjoy my job as a mail carrier. Bringing the American people their mail and correspondence is a great honor to uphold.” But then he said, “The day these troubled souls robbed me at gunpoint was terrifying” and “my trust in people outside of my family and friends is gone.”

The two remaining men, Huria Abu and Hussein Haji, have change of plea hearings scheduled for later this month. But the federal cases did not stop the state investigation.

Man federally convicted of “scam” robberies of mail carriers

Man federally charged with ‘scam’ robberies of mail carriers

State positions

Milwaukee County prosecutors charged Abu at most and seven other men in early 2023: Abdi Abdi, Darrion Allison, Anterian Williams, Amaurie Smith, Jessie Cook, Hussein Haji, Kaperion Gatson.

Last January, prosecutors filed state racketeering charges against 14 men, including eight who had previously been charged. The state used a rarely used statute that was originally created to crack down on the mafia.

In the state cases, seven men have pleaded guilty and are serving state prison sentences. Five of them are serving concurrent sentences to federal sentences.

The state cases of four men are still pending, and three men – including Abu – are awaiting trial later this year.