Four individuals in the St. Louis area have admitted to federal charges related to a bank fraud scheme involving checks stolen from the mail. Johnathan Barnett, 29, of University City, has been sentenced to 80 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp and ordered to pay restitution of $44,135. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, possession of stolen mail, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, admitting to orchestrating a scheme between January 2022 and September 2023 to steal and alter checks for fraudulent banking activities.
Barnett acquired a collection box key from a U.S. Postal Service carrier, Wynter Hinton, and, together with Ryan McKinney and Jayden Burklow, used it to open postal boxes in St. Louis County to steal mail. Hinton also admitted to stealing checks while on her postal route. The group would alter checks to create counterfeits, depositing them into bank accounts of recruits before withdrawing the funds, attempting to defraud over $800,000.
During a search of Barnett's home on September 15, 2023, investigators found firearms including an AR-15-style rifle. Barnett, with previous convictions, attempted to escape with the weapon.
Wynter Hinton, 29, and Ryan McKinney, 24, have also pleaded guilty to related charges, with sentencing planned for July. Jayden Burklow, 21, pleaded guilty in March and will be sentenced in June.
Inspector Ruth Mendonça emphasized accountability for mail theft, highlighting the efforts of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, while Special Agent Dennus Bishop recognized the collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, affirming a commitment to protect mail integrity. Several agencies, including local police departments and federal organizations, participated in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwen Carroll is handling the prosecution.