A former Anchorage United States Postal Service postal carrier was arrested Wednesday in Missouri after a federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging him with fraud and theft for allegedly stealing checks from the mail.
According to court documents, Nha Xiong, 25, altered bank checks, using Whiteout to remove the name of the intended recipient, and wrote his own name on the checks to make it appear as if the checks were made out to him. Xiong would then deposit the altered checks into his bank account.
From November to December 2021, Xiong deposited six stolen checks from Northrim Bank, Bank of America, KeyBank, and Mt. McKinley Bank into his bank account, totaling over $39,000.
Xiong is charged with one count bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1344(2), and one count theft of mail by a postal employee, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1709.
Xiong will make his initial court appearance on a later date before a U.S. District Court judge for the District of Alaska. If convicted, Xiong faces potential fines and up to 30 years in prison.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General are investigating the case.
