Hacks & Exploits
Virginia Duo Arrested for Stealing Mail and $84,000 from Victims' Accounts
A pair of men from Richmond, Virginia, have been arrested for their involvement in a scheme that involved stealing U.S. mail and committing bank fraud, resulting in the theft of $84,000 from victims' debit and credit cards.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia reported that Tremont Hancock, 25, and Olden Ellerbe III, 27, conspired to steal mail from May 2023 through April 2024. They used stolen USPS arrow keys, which grant access to Postal Service collection boxes, to obtain personal and financial information from the mailstream.
Once they acquired this information, the duo drafted fictitious checks, used stolen debit and credit cards to withdraw cash, and applied for loans in the names of their victims. On November 15, 2023, during a series of withdrawals totaling $84,000, law enforcement confronted Hancock and Ellerbe after the final transaction.
Following a brief chase, Ellerbe was apprehended, and authorities recovered stolen mail, $59,940 in cash, 83 stolen checks with a face value of $153,630.83, nine stolen credit or debit cards, six stolen U.S. Savings Bonds worth $5,000, and a handgun from his rental car. Additionally, a counterfeit driver’s license and more stolen mail were found.
Ellerbe pleaded guilty on February 16, 2024, and was sentenced to three years in prison on August 19, 2024. Hancock pleaded guilty on December 4, 2025, and received a sentence of five years and six months in prison on September 16, 2026.
FAQ
What charges were filed against Tremont Hancock and Olden Ellerbe III?
Tremont Hancock and Olden Ellerbe III were charged with stealing U.S. mail and committing bank fraud, resulting in the theft of $84,000 from victims' debit and credit cards.
How did Hancock and Ellerbe gain access to the mail?
They used stolen USPS arrow keys, which provide access to Postal Service collection boxes, to obtain personal and financial information from the mailstream.
What actions did Hancock and Ellerbe take after stealing personal information?
They drafted fictitious checks, used stolen debit and credit cards to withdraw cash, and applied for loans in the names of their victims.
What was the outcome of the law enforcement confrontation on November 15, 2023?
During the confrontation, law enforcement recovered stolen mail, cash, stolen checks, debit and credit cards, U.S. Savings Bonds, a handgun, and a counterfeit driver’s license from Ellerbe's rental car.
What sentences did Hancock and Ellerbe receive for their crimes?
Olden Ellerbe was sentenced to three years in prison on August 19, 2024, while Tremont Hancock received a sentence of five years and six months in prison on September 16, 2026.