Carlton County (trfnews.i234.me) – A Cloquet man is facing a wide range of criminal charges following an investigation into stolen and forged checks. According to Sheriff Kelly Lake, deputies began investigating on September 15 after receiving a report of stolen mail near Renshaw.
During the investigation, authorities learned that one of the stolen checks had been used in an attempt to cash it at a Cloquet bank. Deputies quickly identified the suspect as Chase Christian of Cloquet and placed him under arrest.
A criminal complaint has now been filed charging Christian with several offenses. The charges include check forgery, offering or possessing a forged check with intent to defraud, altering a check, possession or sale of a stolen check, mail theft, receiving stolen property, and drug possession.
Deputies reported evidence tying Christian to at least 14 identified victims. These victims live in Carlton, Renshaw, Esko, and Cloquet. Investigators believe the mailbox thefts took place during September. Authorities are currently in the process of reaching out to the victims to provide further details and gather additional information.
Mail theft has become a growing concern in Minnesota communities, as thieves often target residential mailboxes for financial gain. Officials urge residents to collect mail promptly and report suspicious activity. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service provides further resources and prevention tips on mail theft.
For more on mail theft prevention and federal laws regarding stolen mail, visit the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and review Minnesota state statutes through the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
