Tip Leads to Arrests for Mail Theft in Wallace, CA

“On July 28th 2021, at about 10:45 AM, a Deputy contacted a citizen regarding suspicious behavior believed to be connected with criminal activity. The citizen stated that suspect Andrew Keith Brieno (40 years old from Mokelumne Hill) was allowed to stay in a shed on their property in the Wallace area for a short while. Andrew was asked to leave the property due to undisclosed reasons. While the citizen was removing items left behind, they located several items of mail and credit cards with varying names.

Deputies collected the suspected stolen items and initiated an investigation. While checking the area for Andrew, he was located near the intersection of South Comanche Parkway and Limestone Rd., Wallace. Upon initial contact, Andrew provided a false name to Deputies in an apparent attempt to conceal his true identity for fear of prosecution.

While speaking with him, Andrew advised he had drug paraphernalia on his person. During a subsequent search, deputies located methamphetamine, a hypodermic needle, several items of mail, credit cards, driver’s licenses, insurance cards, and forged checks. Names and addresses on the mail were as far away as Ione, CA.

Andrew was placed under arrest and booked in the Calaveras County Jail on charges of 470(A)PC Felony Forgery, 470(d) PC Felony Check Forgery, 476 PC Felony Possession of Fictitious Checks, 530.5(c)(3) PC Illegally Possess Identification of 10 or More Persons with Intent to Defraud (Misdemeanor), 496 (A) PC Possession of Stolen Property (Misdemeanor), 11377 (A) H&S Possession of Controlled Substance (Misdemeanor), 113564 H&S Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Misdemeanor), 530.5 (E) PC Commit Mail Theft (Misdemeanor), and 148.9 (a) Provide False Identification to a Peace Officer (Misdemeanor). As of July 30, 2021, he was still in the Calaveras County Jail with a bail of $20,000.

The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the citizen for reporting this crime. Without their help, Andrew would likely continue to have stolen mail from countless others for financial gain.

There is no further information at this time as this is an ongoing investigation.