Community
Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
Mail theft suspects arrested
| Nature of Incident: | Mail theft suspects arrested | ||||
| Report Number: | 24-146468 | ||||
| Location: | Various mailboxes throughout Ventura County | ||||
| Date & Time: | 12/11/2024 @ 07:00 A.M. | ||||
| Unit(s) Responsible: | Ojai Patrol Station, Ojai Investigations, Fillmore Patrol Station, Fillmore Investigations, Headquarters Patrol Station, Headquarters Investigations, West County Special Enforcement Unit, United States Postal Inspection Service, California Department of Motor Vehicle Investigations, Main Jail Classification Unit |
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| (S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence |
Age | |||
| (S) Jose Luis Uribe (S) Joel Cortez Jr. |
Montebello Montebello |
20 27 |
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| Narrative: | |||||
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| During the past several months, the city of Ojai has been experiencing an increase of mail theft from United States Postal Service collection boxes specifically targeting monetary checks. Once the checks were stolen, they were fraudulently cashed resulting in several hundred thousand dollars being stolen. Detectives from the Ojai Police Station began an investigation and determined an organized crime ring was operating in the Ojai Valley and throughout Ventura County. During the following several months, Ojai Detectives, with the assistance of the West County Special Enforcement Unit, identified two suspects, Jose Luis Uribe and Joel Cortez Jr. as being responsible for committing and organizing thefts from mailboxes themselves and coordinating the thefts with other members of the crime ring. Detectives also identified mailboxes stretching from Los Angeles County to Ventura County that Uribe and Cortez Jr. were targeting. Many of these mailboxes were in affluent communities throughout both counties. Detectives learned that after the checks were stolen, they were cashed with either stolen or fictitious identification cards through an online banking service or in person at various banks throughout Southern California. As the investigation continued, detectives determined that Uribe and Cortez Jr. were also using fraudulent means to either make unlawful purchases or illegally acquire luxury and high-end performance vehicles. These vehicles were also used as get-away vehicles during the mail thefts that were occurring in Ventura County. Due to the large amount of stolen mail, identity theft, and fraudulently obtained vehicles used by the suspects, detectives partnered with the United States Postal Inspection Service along with the California Department of Motor Vehicle Investigations Unit. Detectives authored a residential search warrant for the residence of Uribe and Cortez Jr. in the city of Montebello. On 12/11/2025, detectives served the residential search warrant and located approximately $35,000 dollars in cash, hundreds of checks believed to be stolen, illegal firearms, several pieces of expensive jewelry, and several expensive gaming computers. Detectives also seized the following vehicles that were determined by DMV investigators to either be fraudulently registered or had their VIN numbers illegally altered: 2016 Lamborghini Huracan – Estimated Value $237,000. 2017 Audi RS7 Estimated Value - $129,500 2023 Cadillac Escalade Estimated Value - $90,000 2021 Cadillac Escalade Estimated Value - $80,000 2019 Mini Cooper Countryman Estimated Value - $27,000 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor Conversion Estimated Value - $20,000 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Estimated Value - $91,000 Unknown year ATV off road vehicle – Unknown value At the conclusion of the investigation, Uribe and Cortez were arrested and transported to the Pre-Trial Detention Facility and booked for the following charges in lieu of $1,000,000 bail: 530.5(e) PC – Mail Theft, 530.5(a) PC – Identity Theft, and 182(a)(1) PC – Conspiracy to commit a crime. Detectives anticipate arresting Uribe and Cortez for vehicle registration fraud in the coming weeks after DMV investigators complete their investigation. Detectives also partnered with the United States Post Office to ensure any mailboxes that were targeted were secured to prevent any other mail thefts from occurring. Detectives are actively investigating this large-scale mail theft operation along with the fraudulent activity associated with the seized vehicles and are asking for the public’s assistance for any information regarding these crimes. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Steve Bibian at (805) 677-8733 or Detective Evert Ponce at (805) 677-8772. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank members of the public for their on-going support and due diligence in providing information to assist our agency in solving crimes. We are better at what we do because of our community partnerships. Join us in the fight on crime by following us on “X” @VENTURASHERIFF, Facebook, Instagram @VCSHERIFF and @VCSOHQSTATION, and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety alerts and advisories. Tips can also be submitted through Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477), where callers can remain anonymous. |
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| Prepared by: | Sergeant Gabriel Gonzales #4368 | ||||
| News Release Date: | 12/12/2025 | ||||
| Media Follow-Up Contact: | Detective Steve Bibian [email protected] 805-677-8733 Detective Evert Ponce [email protected] 805-677-8772 |
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| Approved by: Booking Photo Release: |
Captain Rob Davidson #3573 YES NO |
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Address/Location
Ventura County Sheriff's Office
800 S Victoria Ave
Ventura, CA 93003
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-654-9511