11/13/25 – A federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a 19-count indictment charging MICHAEL ATKINSON, 27, of East Hartford; ROLAND McTAGGART, 27, of Hartford; SHARIF DJIBO, 28, of East Hartford; ROMARIO ROSE, 31, of Newington; JASHAWN ATKINSON, 23, of Hartford; and ADRIAN OLIVERO, 53, of New Britain, with offenses related to the cashing of stolen U.S. Treasury checks at a U.S. Post Office in Hartford. The indictment was returned on October 28, 2025, and Michael Atkinson, McTaggart, Djibo, Rose, Jashawn Atkinson, and RASHELLE SAILOR, 40, of Hartford, an alleged co-conspirator who is charged by federal criminal complaint, were arrested on November 6, 2025. Olivero is currently being sought by law enforcement.
The announcement was made by David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office; Ricky J. Patel, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York; Michael Carpenter, Special Agent in Charge of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA); Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; and Hartford Police Chief James Rovella.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, Michael Atkinson, McTaggart, Djibo, Rose, Jashawn Atkinson, Olivero, and others obtained stolen U.S. Treasury checks and cashed them at the Blue Hills Post Office on Woodland Street in Hartford, where Sailor was employed as a postal clerk. To ensure that there was sufficient cash available for a transaction, the co-conspirators often purchased postal money orders with cash prior to presenting the checks to Sailor who cashed them. Sailor also cashed stolen checks she had obtained herself. Between February and July 2025, the defendants cashed more than 1,300 stolen U.S. Treasury checks worth a total of more than $3.1 million. Of that total, Sailor was involved in the cashing of more than 1,200 checks worth more than $2.7 million.
“As alleged, these co-conspirators collectively stole more than $3 million from the government in a relatively short period of time,” said U.S. Attorney Sullivan. “The fact that the scheme involved, and would not have been successful without, the participation of at least one corrupt government employee, is particularly disturbing. I thank our partner law enforcement agencies for shutting down this operation and bringing these individuals to justice. The investigation to determine those responsible for the theft of the U.S. Treasury Checks, and others involved in the scheme, is ongoing.”
“The Special Agents of the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG) will vigorously investigate those who use their position to commit crimes against the American public and the Postal Service,” said Special Agent in Charge Modafferi of U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. “The conduct alleged is disgraceful, and our office will continue to tirelessly investigate Postal Service employees and their co-conspirators who violate the public’s trust. This case serves as an excellent example of the successful collaboration between the USPS OIG, our law enforcement partners, and the District of Connecticut U.S Attorney’s Office to pursue and prosecute Postal Service employees involved in criminal activity.”
“Today’s announcement shines a harsh light on an alleged public corruption scheme in which a federal employee partnered with individuals to steal from the hardworking communities they were entrusted to serve,” said HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel. “The defendants are accused of exploiting government systems for their own greed, and robbing innocent Americans of money intended for them. Their alleged actions reflect an audacious disregard for the law and the communities they harmed. HSI New York will work tirelessly with our partners to dismantle these criminal networks and bring every perpetrator to justice.”
“The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) aggressively investigates individuals who attempt to exploit U.S Treasury refund checks meant for hard working taxpayers for their own private gain,” said TIGTA Special Agent in Charge Michael Carpenter. “TIGTA’s mission is to protect the integrity of our nation’s tax administration system. We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who violate federal laws are prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.”
“These defendants sought to enrich themselves through an elaborate scheme involving the cashing of stolen U.S. Treasury checks at a Hartford Post Office,” said Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division. “They then compounded their crimes by laundering some of the proceeds through the purchase of postal money orders. The Postal Inspection Service will not tolerate thieves — regardless of who they are — using the U.S. Mail to harm postal customers or the financial institutions that serve them. We are grateful to all the agencies involved in bringing this group to justice.”
Each of the defendants is charged with conspiracy, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and with one or more counts of theft of government property, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years on each count. Each defendant is also charged with aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of two years.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment or criminal complaint are not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the U.S Postal Service Office of the Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and the Hartford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Chang.
