Two arrested on mail theft and drug charges

On 12-13-2018, a Mendocino County Sheriff's Deputy was dispatched to investigate a mail theft from a resident in Redwood Valley, California.

While this was occurring, the Ukiah Police Department was investigating separate incidents of attempted fraud at a bank and store in Ukiah, California (close proximity to Redwood Valley).

A suspect, identified as Charles Dale Maxfield was subsequently arrested by the Ukiah Police Department inside a department store on North Orchard Avenue, and he had in his possession a checkbook that was believed to have been stolen in the mail from the Redwood Valley resident.

An additional suspect who is not in custody attempted to pass a check from the same checkbook Maxfield possessed inside a banking institution on South State Street in Ukiah.

Ukiah Police Officers also later that day located additional stolen mail around the dumpster of a motel in the 1200 block of South State Street. This mail was being disposed of by a suspect and the mail appears to be be stolen from the greater Ukiah and Redwood Valley area.

Evidence located at that location by the Ukiah Police Department was later turned over to the Mendocino County Sheriff's Deputy investigating the mail theft.

The Mendocino County Sheriff's Deputy went to the Mendocino County Jail where Maxfield had been booked by the Ukiah Police Department and arrested Maxfield on additional mail theft charges.

On 12-14-2018, Mendocino County Sheriff's Office Investigators obtained a search warrant from a Mendocino County Superior Court Judge for a room at the hotel that was rented by Maxfield and Madalena Acosta.

After serving the search warrant, additional suspected stolen mail was recovered from the room including mail believed to have been stolen from the Redwood Valley area, the Ukiah area and Lake County.

Additionally, suspected drugs were located in the room. Acosta was ultimately arrested and booked into the Mendocino County Jail for mail theft, conspiracy, identity theft, possession of stolen property and possession of a controlled substance.

Both Acosta and Maxfield are being held at the Mendocino County Jail in lieu of $15,000.00 bail.

Due to collaborative efforts by the Ukiah Police Department and the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office, suspects were identified in this investigation and two have been arrested at this time as the investigation continues. Two additional suspects are being sought and their names are not being released at this time.

Due the large volume of mail recovered, the United States Postal Inspectors Office out of Sonoma County is assisting with this investigation.

The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office is aware of a large number of reported mail thefts and encourages residents to check their mail early and bring any delivered packages inside as soon as possible or utilize a more secure way of receiving mail.