Woman arrested in Mississippi for cashing a stolen check mailed from a Walton County business

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – Authorities say a Mississippi woman was arrested more than a year after she allegedly cashed a stolen check from a Walton County business as it was being mailed by the U.S. Postal Service .

Officials with the Walton County Sheriff's Office said on Saturday in April 2023 that a construction company in Santa Rosa Beach sent a check for $15,567 to a seller through the U.S. Postal Service.

WCSO investigators said the check was stolen while in transit in the mail. They said the theft was reported to the sheriff's office in May 2024.

Investigators said through an extensive investigation they were able to trace the check to 24-year-old Xandria Jenkins of Yazoo, Mississippi. Authorities said Jenkins was located and interviewed by Yazoo City Police. They said Jenkins claimed she received the check from someone she met online, cashed it and split the money between the two.

WCSO officials said Jenkins was extradited from Mississippi to Walton County in September. They said WCSO investigators continue to work with the U.S. Postal Service to investigate the original theft of the check.

WCSO officers shared the following tips to avoid becoming a victim of check theft:

• Report crimes as soon as you learn about them
• Use mail tracking to send large checks. Request signature confirmation upon delivery
• Use secure mailboxes
• Confirm the name on the check and make sure the check has been cashed by the person/vendor you sent it to
• Consider bank transfers

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