APPLETON — If you’ve been a victim in the recent mail theft case in Outagamie County, sheriff’s investigators say they will soon be reaching out to you.
The Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office says there are likley hundreds of victims, and they are calling back people in the order that the calls have come in.
If you feel you may have been a victim, please contact the Sheriff’s Office at 920-832-5605 to leave a message for an investigator.
The Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office arrested two people March 9 who they say are connected to the repeated theft of mail in the Fox Valley area.
That’s when investigators say they stopped a vehicle in the Town of Buchanan area.
Inside were Danika A Viasana, 32, and Carl James Breneman, 36. Both were currently living out of a hotel in Kimberly.
Within the vehicle Viasana was driving, investigators say they located methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and hundreds of pieces of mail including two US Passports, dozens of tax related documents, packages and personal checks, all of which were stolen.
Further investigation led investigators to execute a search warrant on the hotel room Viasana was staying in. There investigators located several hundred more pieces of mail and further drug evidence.
Viasana was arrested and charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Felony Bail Jumping and Misdemeanor Bail Jumping. Viasana has open cases in Calumet, Outagamie and Brown Counties and many of these charges relate to other mail thefts and fraud related offenses.
Breneman was arrested and booked into the Outagamie County Jail on a probation hold.
The investigation is ongoing and further charges are likely. The Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office is working with the United States Postal Inspector’s Office as this investigation moves forward.
While evidence continues to be processed, Sheriff’s Investigators have located approximately 500 pieces of stolen mail from more than 200 residences and businesses. Further, we have identified over 100 victims from the mail that was recovered. The investigation has found Viasana was using the information found in the mail to commit financial fraud crimes for financial gain through identity theft.
If you believe your mail was stolen please report this to your local law enforcement. Investigators would also encourage anyone who may have had their mail stolen to review their credit reports and banking information for possible identity theft.
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