An individual who created keys using silverware to loot mail from apartment mailboxes has been charged with federal fraud.
In May, federal authorities arrested Adam Christopher Turner who is now 40 years old. Recently, he was indicted by a grand jury.
According to the indictment, the individual from Colorado Springs is alleged to have utilized counterfeit keys to gain entry into “cluster boxes” situated in apartment buildings across three different cities. The break-ins have been linked back to February 2023.
In November 12, 2023, Lone Tree PD apprehended Turner for committing fraud using stolen credit cards at various establishments. During the arrest, officers found a collection of 20 credit cards belonging to different individuals in Turner’s possession. Additionally, they found six “arrow keys,” or master keys for mailboxes, which Turner had fashioned out of dinner knives.
According to the indictment, Turner’s arrest in Lone Tree was a violation of the deferred sentence he received for a burglary in 2022. However, it is worth noting that Turner was only handed a probation sentence for both offenses.
Following his arrest in Lone Tree, a detective from the Financial Crimes Unit of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation into the misuse of stolen credit cards at various businesses in Colorado Springs. During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that 16 victims from Colorado Springs, Peyton, and Parker had fallen prey to mailbox theft. With the help of surveillance footage from several businesses in the area, the detective was able to swiftly identify Turner as the perpetrator who was using the stolen credit cards of the victims.
Someone from Peyton had their debit card used for a $793 transaction at a Walmart store located in Colorado Springs.
Someone from Parker had their credit card charged for $3,523 worth of merchandise at Scheels in Colorado Springs.
Someone in Peyton recently fell victim to credit card fraud when an unknown individual used their card to make a purchase of $3,870 worth of products at Scheels in Johnstown.
Someone in Peyton had their Home Depot credit card used to make a purchase of $1,086.
In Colorado Springs and Peyton, two individuals fell victim to credit card fraud as their Target credit cards were exploited to make unauthorized purchases totaling $2,426 and $2,517, respectively.
As the surveillance footage played, the El Paso detective observed Turner exiting a store while donning a sweatshirt that he had unlawfully acquired from another establishment.
While visiting stores, Turner was spotted driving a black Camaro or a black Dodge Ram pickup by the detective. One of the videos showed the license plates of the pickup truck which belonged to a mail theft victim in Peyton.
In May, law enforcement officials obtained a search warrant for Turner’s residence, vehicles, and cell phones after analyzing five months’ worth of infractions. This occurred just three weeks following his sentencing in Lone Tree.
During the investigation, authorities discovered an abundance of new or gently used tools, as well as mechanical and electrical equipment, valued at thousands of dollars at Turner’s home. Additionally, they uncovered eight counterfeit arrow keys mixed in with a set of dinner knives at a storage unit rented by Turner.
The stolen mail inside the truck included gift cards, credit cards, and two additional arrow keys.
Turner had an additional trick up his sleeve – an electronic license plate flipper installed in his truck. This sneaky device enabled him to conceal the stolen license plate by flipping it over the truck’s genuine one while carrying out unlawful acts.
According to the indictment, Turner’s cell phone records showed that his phone was in the vicinity of the stores when the stolen credit cards were used.
During the search of the residence and the Camaro, authorities discovered guns and a considerable amount of methamphetamine. The indictment also includes drug-related charges. As a convicted felon, Turner was prohibited from owning firearms, making the possession of guns illegal.
On July 8, Turner made his initial appearance in federal court and is scheduled to go on trial in late August. Additionally, his probation in the Lone Tree case has also been revoked.
