2 charged in multi-million-dollar mail theft conspiracy at Lubbock airport

A man and a woman from Slaton are facing federal charges in connection with a multi-million-dollar mail theft investigation.

Joe Roy Rivas III, 22, and Jessica Lynn Solomon, 35, were indicted on Oct. 13 on a count of conspiracy to possess stolen mail and eight counts of possession of stolen mail. They face a punishment of up to 45 years in prison.

Solomon was arrested in Slaton the next day and made her initial appearance in federal court on Oct. 15. She was released on a personal recognizance bond after her court appearance. She is being represented by the Federal Public Defenders Office. 

Rivas made his initial appearance on Monday, according to court records. He remains held at the Lubbock County Detention Center. He is represented by local attorney Michael King, court records show. 

Authorities recovered more than 8,000 pieces of mail worth more than $4 million from Rivas and Solomon, who both worked at Cargo Force Solutions, a contractor that loads and unloads mail for U.S. Postal Service at the Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport. 

Federal officials believe the two were involved in the largest seizure of stolen mail in Northern District of Texas history, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Investigators believe Rivas and Solomon stole the mail while working for Cargo Force Solutions and sifted through mail looking for items containing cash, gift cards, checks, and money orders, which they kept in 55-gallon trash bags found at their homes. 

Specifically, the indictment accused the two of stealing nine checks worth more than $2.3 million between Feb. 25-26.

The checks they are accused of stealing include��a $2 million check payable to Pershing LLC, a $25,728 check made payable to a telecom co-op, a $15,000 check to a consulting group, a $241,1863 check to a facilities management and food services company, according to court documents. 

Solomon pleaded not guilty to the charges and is set to stand trial on Dec. 6. Meanwhile, Rivas is set to appear for an arraignment on Nov. 10.