Alleged ID thief arrested with 1,000 pounds of stolen mail
PORT TOWNSEND, Wash. -- Officers found more than 1,000 pounds of stolen mail in a wanted felon's apartment in what is being called the largest fraud scheme ever investigated by the Port Townsend Police Department.
According to police, 38-year-old Adam Justin Lysiak would take nightly runs through Jefferson County and other nearby counties, stealing mail and returning to his apartment in the 1500 block of Sherman Street.
He allegedly used the mail to create fake identities, forge ID cards, pass bad checks and use stolen credit cards.
The Port Townsend Police Department learned of the identity theft operation while investigating a tip that Lysiak, a wanted felon, was living on Sherman Street.
Officers served a warrant at Lysiak's apartment Tuesday evening and arrested Lysiak after he tried to escape by jumping off a second-floor balcony, injuring himself, according to police.
Inside Lysiak's apartment, police found more than 1,000 pounds of mail, as well as other evidence, whose sheer volume could require weeks to process, according to police.
According to Washington state law, every 10 pieces of stolen mail is a separate felony, meaning Lysiak could have more than 100 felony charges filed against him.
He could also faces charges for forgery, financial fraud, theft and possessing stolen property.
Lysiak, who has a history of drug abuse and resisting arrest, is being held on $250,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court on Friday.
At the time of his arrest, was wanted by a handful of local law-enforcement agencies in connection with various crimes .
Kent Municipal Court wanted him in connection with possession of stolen property; Federal Way Municipal Court wanted him in connection with forgery and attempted theft; and Fife Municipal Court wanted him for a criminal traffic charge.
In addition, Lysiak was wanted by the Department of Corrections for allegedly escaping from community custody in Federal Way.
He was released from prison in September after serving time for identity theft, possession of stolen property and possession of fraudulent bank checks and placed into community custody prior to escaping.
This is the second time Lysiak has allegedly escaped from the Department of Corrections. According to police, he escaped his probation officer last year and was later found hiding in Port Hadlock.
He is an escapee â just why is there ANY bail at all, regardless of the amount? Itâs already proven heâs a runner.
Sentence him to one year for every pound of stolen mail. Heck, even one month for every pound would put him behind bars for 83 years.
I am surprised by how many people still do not have a locking mailbox.
@oledawg Locking mailboxes are expensive. If you are served by a cluster box then everyone at that location needs to pay for the cluster box. In my area it was 15 people and it cost over $100 per person.
Still, money well spent in my opinion.
@Furd @oledawg Mine was $150 when I bought it, 13 years ago.  Currently they are about $190, worth every penny.
His name turned up 64 times in Washington courts records. This guy isn't going to learn.Â
That is a lot of mail for the police to sort through.Â
If found guilty by a jury, each and every count should be servedÂ
consequentially, not concurrently.
Identity theft leaves long lasting problems and issues for the victims.
the 3 strikes applies to certain types of felonies, I don't think this qualifies. That being said I see no reason to keep him locked up, execute him. Â
I think he misses his homies in cell block 6
Burn this piece of garbage. Looser driving around , ruining good peoples lives, this hunk of garbage deserves no mercy and should be locked away until he rots.
"According to Washington state law, every 10 pieces of stolen mail is a separate felony, meaning Lysiak could have more than 100 felony charges filed against him." I think they should only take 10 pieces of mail from the apartment...charge him (no bail) release him as soon as he steps foot in the apartment charge him for 10 more pieces of mail...and repeat if necessary until you have 3 strikes!!
@aintno1special Stupidest comment ever.....Â
@BravesPackersCougzSounders @aintno1special. So basically what you are saying is, you don't read yur own posts?