The scheme allegedly involved stolen U.S. Treasury checks and a postal clerk willing to cash them, according to federal authorities.
Now, seven people face federal charges in a case that allegedly included more than $3 million stolen, according to federal authorities.
Michael Atkinson, 27, of East Hartford; Roland Mctaggart, 27, of Hartford; Sharif Djibo, 28, of East Hartford; Romario Rose, 31, of Newington; Jashawn Atkinson, 23, of Hartford; and Adrian Olivero, 53, of New Britain, and Rashelle Sailor, 40 of Hartford, all face charges related to the cashing of stolen U.S. Treasury checks at a U.S. Post Office in Hartford, according to federal authorities. Olivero is being sought by law enforcement; the others were arrested.
Citing court documents and statements made in court, federal authorities allege Michael Atkinson, McTaggart, Djibo, Rose, Jashawn Atkinson, Olivero, and others obtained stolen U.S. Treasury checks and cashed them at the Blue Hills Post Office on Woodland Street in Hartford.
Sailor worked as a postal clerk at that location, and, allegedly to ensure that “there was sufficient cash available for a transaction, the co-conspirators often purchased postal money orders with cash prior to presenting the checks to Sailor who cashed them,” according to authorities.
Sailor also allegedly “cashed stolen checks she had obtained herself. Between February and July 2025, the defendants cashed more than 1,300 stolen U.S. Treasury checks worth a total of more than $3.1 million. Of that total, Sailor was involved in the cashing of more than 1,200 checks worth more than $2.7 million,” according to authorities.
“As alleged, these co-conspirators collectively stole more than $3 million from the government in a relatively short period of time,” David X. Sullivan, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, said in a statement. “The fact that the scheme involved, and would not have been successful without, the participation of at least one corrupt government employee, is particularly disturbing.
“I thank our partner law enforcement agencies for shutting down this operation and bringing these individuals to justice,” he said. “The investigation to determine those responsible for the theft of the U.S. Treasury Checks, and others involved in the scheme, is ongoing.”
Matthew Modafferi, special agent in charge of U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, said the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General “will vigorously investigate those who use their position to commit crimes against the American public and the Postal Service.”
“The conduct alleged is disgraceful, and our office will continue to tirelessly investigate Postal Service employees and their co-conspirators who violate the public’s trust. This case serves as an excellent example of the successful collaboration between the USPS OIG, our law enforcement partners, and the District of Connecticut U.S Attorney’s Office to pursue and prosecute Postal Service employees involved in criminal activity.”
Homeland Security Investigations New York Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel said the case “shines a harsh light on an alleged public corruption scheme in which a federal employee partnered with individuals to steal from the hardworking communities they were entrusted to serve.”
“The defendants are accused of exploiting government systems for their own greed, and robbing innocent Americans of money intended for them,” Patel said. “Their alleged actions reflect an audacious disregard for the law and the communities they harmed. HSI New York will work tirelessly with our partners to dismantle these criminal networks and bring every perpetrator to justice.”
Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division said the defendants allegedly “sought to enrich themselves through an elaborate scheme involving the cashing of stolen U.S. Treasury checks at a Hartford Post Office.”
“They then compounded their crimes by laundering some of the proceeds through the purchase of postal money orders,” Larco-Ward said. “The Postal Inspection Service will not tolerate thieves — regardless of who they are — using the U.S. Mail to harm postal customers or the financial institutions that serve them. We are grateful to all the agencies involved in bringing this group to justice.”
Each of the defendants is charged with conspiracy, with theft of government property, and with aggravated identity theft, authorities said.
The ongoing investigation is being done by the U.S Postal Service Office of the Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and Hartford Police Department, authorities said.