BOROUGH PARK, Brooklyn (VINnews) — A former U.S. Postal Service employee and an alleged accomplice have been indicted on charges of stealing more than $25,000 in tenants’ rent payments by intercepting mailed money orders, altering them and cashing them, prosecutors said Wednesday.

According to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, the alleged scheme ran from August 2024 through August 2025 while Bianca Graham, 30, worked at the Blythebourne Post Office in Borough Park. Investigators allege she stole envelopes containing rent money orders mailed by tenants to property management companies to pay their monthly rent.

Prosecutors said Graham and Sean Campbell, 36, altered the stolen U.S. Postal Service money orders by removing the original payee’s name and replacing it with Campbell’s name or that of another individual. In other cases, investigators allege Campbell’s name was added alongside the intended recipient before the money orders were negotiated.

Authorities said Campbell then cashed the altered money orders at various Brooklyn post offices or deposited them into bank accounts under his control.

The alleged scheme affected 13 victims and resulted in losses totaling $25,191.48, according to prosecutors.

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said tenants who mail rent payments should be able to trust that their money will safely reach landlords and property managers.

“As alleged, these defendants exploited that trust, stole payments meant for landlords and property managers, and converted them for their own benefit,” Gonzalez said.

Officials with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service said the case involved the theft, alteration and negotiation of U.S. Postal Service money orders by a postal employee entrusted with handling the mail.

The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General said allegations involving stolen mail and employee misconduct are taken seriously and pledged to continue working with law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of postal operations.

New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the defendants are accused of stealing more than $25,000 belonging to New Yorkers who relied on the postal system to pay their rent.

“The victims trusted the integrity of our postal system to pay their rent, as millions do every day, and those who betray that will be held accountable,” Tisch said.

The defendants were arraigned in Brooklyn Supreme Court on an indictment charging each with two counts of third-degree grand larceny, 35 counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, 10 counts of fourth-degree grand larceny, petit larceny and fifth-degree conspiracy.

They were released without bail and ordered to return to court on Aug. 26.

According to prosecutors, the investigation began after authorities received a tip. Investigators later obtained a search warrant for Graham’s cellphone as part of the probe.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the NYPD Financial Crimes Task Force and the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office.