Houston mail carrier pleads not guilty in wide-ranging federal theft case
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A Houston mail carrier accused of participating in a mail theft conspiracy pleaded not guilty Monday during her initial appearance in federal court.
PREVIOUS REPORT: Houston postal carriers charged in alleged $23 million check-theft scheme
Catherine Kilpatrick appeared before a federal judge in handcuffs and entered a not guilty plea in connection with a federal indictment alleging she was involved in a scheme to steal checks from the mail.
According to prosecutors, Kilpatrick was one of three mail carriers who worked with alleged ringleader Trystone Vaughn.
Federal authorities accuse Kilpatrick and the other mail carriers of stealing checks from mail they were assigned to deliver, targeting checks from Chase Bank, Stellar Bank, Amegy Bank, Citibank and BMO Bank.
In Kilpatrick's case, prosecutors allege she stole a Chase Bank check worth $9,858.01 in October 2023 along her Kingwood mail route. Authorities claim Vaughn later sold the stolen checks online to buyers for undisclosed amounts.
Prosecutors allege more than $23 million was stolen through the activities of the five-person ring.
The federal case is unrelated to another recent mail theft arrest involving a postal carrier in the Houston area. Last week, League City mail carrier Richard Ybanez was arrested while in uniform and on his route. He is accused of stealing several pieces of mail, though authorities have not said what was inside the mail he allegedly took.
Kilpatrick remains charged in the federal case and has pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
