Cops: Man Arrested In Connection With Check Washing Scheme

May 12, 2025

A Philadelphia man has been arrested and charged in connection with a check washing and theft scheme that targeted mail deposited in Bristol Borough, according to court papers.

According to police reports, the investigation began on February 13 when the Bristol Borough Police Department took a walk-in report from an investigator with Penn Community Bank. The investigator reported that on January 29 at approximately 1:38 a.m., an individual broke into the mailbox located in front of the bank on Mill Street, police said.

Surveillance footage provided by the bank showed a white four-door Dodge pulling up to the mailbox. A suspect then used a key to open the box, removed the mail, briefly examined it in the back seat of the vehicle, returned the mail tray, and drove away, police said.

Further investigation revealed that on March 4, Citizens Bank initiated an investigation into a loss of $25,996.81 involving a fraudulent check, police said.

Investigators found this check, which was originally a Penn Community Bank check dated January 28 for $27,397.59, was reportedly deposited into the U.S. Postal Service mailbox in Bristol Borough on the same day it was issued.

Police determined that on January 29 at 1:37 a.m., a white four-door Dodge Charger with a black roof and hood entered Bristol Borough. The vehicle was observed parking in front of Penn Community Bank at 1:38 a.m. A man dressed in black with white socks and slippers exited the vehicle, used a key to open the mailbox, and removed the mail container. After sorting through the mail in the rear of the vehicle, he returned the container and left the scene around 1:40 a.m., traveling towards Radcliffe and Market Streets. The vehicle was later seen on Old Route 13 towards Otter Street, with its license plate either missing or unreadable, police said.

The investigation found that on February 3 at 7:28 a.m., the altered Penn Community Bank check, which was now made out to “Jamal Rice” for $27,397.59, was deposited via the drive-thru ATM at a Citizens Bank on Roosevelt Boulevard in Philadelphia, police said.

The deposit was made into an account belonging to Jamal T. Rice, 39, of Philadelphia, by a man wearing a mask and operating a white Dodge Charger with a black roof, police said.

The original payee of the Penn Community Bank check confirmed to police on April 16 that they never received the check, which was mailed on January 28.

Between February 4 and February 6, before the fraudulent check was flagged and returned on February 7, multiple withdrawals totaling $25,996.81 were made from Jamal T. Rice’s Citizens Bank account, police said.

The investigation found the withdrawals included cash withdrawals at various Citizens Bank branches in Philadelphia and were all made in person with the signature of Jamal Rice, police said.

A $15,000 check made payable to Jamal Rice and allegedly deposited into a Chase Bank account.

Both Citizens Bank and Penn Community Bank are listed as victims in the alleged crime and reported suffering financial losses as a result of the scheme.

Following the investigation, Jamal T. Rice was arrested last week.

Rice has been charged with forgery, theft, receiving stolen property, access device fraud, and bad checks. Rice was preliminarily arraigned by District Judge Charles Jonas and is currently being held on 10 percent of a $100,000 bail.

Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.