Florida Man Admits to Stealing Checks Worth Thousands from Missouri & Illinois Churches

Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. Cover photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo by Warren Le May | Flickr

A press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Eastern District of Missouri states that a Florida man admitted in court on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, to stealing checks from mailboxes of churches across Missouri and Illinois.
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According to the release, Lourdes Mario Anton, 20, pleaded guilty to one count of mail theft. Anton's initial admission occurred on October 3, 2024, after his arrest following the receipt of video footage that captured himself and a juvenile partner-in-crime stealing from a Missouri church's mailbox.

Police spotted the white Toyota minivan Anton was driving in the footage and pulled it over. Anton permitted officers to search the minivan, which contained a tool the pair used to steal mail, and a receipt for a FedEx package that Anton addressed to himself in Hollywood, Florida, resulting in admission.

Investigators later intercepted the package where they discovered 27 checks totaling $14,584 inside — money that was meant for religious organizations in eastern Missouri and southern Illinois, including a church in St. Peters, Missouri.

Anton's sentencing is currently scheduled to be conducted on March 21, 2025. The mail theft charge carries a potential penalty of up to 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the St. Charles County Police Department collaborated on investigations for the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwen Carroll is the standing prosecutor on the docket.

As of publication, no additional details are available at this time. Further updates are to be released by the Office of Public Affairs.

Article by Rachael Volpe