Hawai‘i Island police have arrested and charged three individuals with various financial crime offenses stemming from a theft of mail that occurred in January 2024.
In February 2024, a financial institution in Hilo was alerted to nine drafted personal checks belonging to a member’s checking account that were suspicious in nature. The victim reported that she had ordered a book of new checks to be delivered to her residential mailbox, but never received the checks. The victim reported that her mailbox door was observed to have been left open on several occasions in the month of January, and believed her checks were stolen.
Three individuals were later identified depositing the victim’s stolen and forged checks into their own accounts. A total of $11,000 was transferred out of the victim’s account from the stolen checks. Police obtained arrest warrants for the three suspects who were all later located, arrested and charged. The suspects have been identified as the following:
Joseph K. Medeiros-Alidon, 25-years-old, of Hilo, who was arrested and charged for the following offenses:
- Six counts of second-degree Theft
- Six counts of second-degree Identity Theft
- Seven counts second-degree Forgery
- One count of Unauthorized Possession of Personal Confidential Information
- One count third-degree Theft
- One count third-degree Identity Theft
Medeiros-Alidon’s bail was set at $42,000.
January R. Andres, 48-years-old, of Hilo, who was arrested and charged for the following offenses:
- One count of second-degree Theft
- One count of second-degree Identity Theft
- One count of third-degree Forgery
- One count of Unauthorized Possession of Personal Confidential Information
Andres’ bail was set at $8,000
Frances A. Matias, 49-years-old, of Hilo, who was arrested and charged for the following offenses:
- One count of third-degree Theft
- One count of third-degree Identity Theft
- One count of second-degree Forgery
- One count of Unauthorized Possession of Personal Confidential Information
Matias’ bail was set at $7,000.
The Hawai‘i Police Department recommends residents install locked mailboxes at their residence in order to help deter theft of incoming mail; as well as dropping off outgoing mail at a secure United States Postal Service drop box, or post office.
Anyone with information relative to this investigation is encouraged to call the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311. They may also contact Detective Amy Omaya at (808) 961-2381 or via email at amy.omaya@hawaiicounty.gov