VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. — Two men from Montebello were arrested for their roles in an organized mail theft operation targeting affluent communities throughout Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
Jose Luis Uribe, 20, and Joel Cortez Jr., 27, allegedly stole monetary checks from USPS mailboxes over several months, fraudulently cashing them using stolen or fictitious identification. Detectives determined the pair coordinated thefts with other members of a larger crime ring, and also used fraudulently obtained luxury and high-performance vehicles as getaway cars during the crimes.
On December 11, 2025, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office detectives served a residential search warrant at the suspects’ Montebello home. Authorities recovered approximately $35,000 in cash, hundreds of stolen checks, illegal firearms, expensive jewelry, gaming computers, and multiple vehicles with fraudulent or altered VINs. The vehicles seized included:
2016 Lamborghini Huracan – $237,000
2017 Audi RS7 – $129,500
2023 Cadillac Escalade – $90,000
2021 Cadillac Escalade – $80,000
2019 Mini Cooper Countryman – $27,000
2017 Ford F-150 Raptor Conversion – $20,000
2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon – $91,000
Unknown year ATV
Uribe and Cortez were booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility on $1,000,000 bail each. They face charges including mail theft (PC 530.5(e)), identity theft (PC 530.5(a)), and conspiracy to commit a crime (PC 182(a)(1)). Investigators anticipate additional charges for vehicle registration fraud after DMV analysis.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating the larger network associated with this theft operation and is seeking public assistance. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Steve Bibian at (805) 677-8733 or Detective Evert Ponce at (805) 677-8772. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477).
The sheriff’s office thanked the community for its ongoing support and reminded residents to stay vigilant, especially regarding suspicious mail or financial activity.
