Hampton Mailbox Raid Uncovers Russian National's $100K+ Identity Theft Plot

A Russian national found looking through a Hampton mailbox is facing an identity theft-related felony charge as well as possible federal charges after Hampton authorities helped undercover a large mail theft operation.

Aleksei V. Shushliannikov, 21, who has been living in Boston, Mass., on a student visa since May 2012, was charged with one felony count of attempted theft after a Hampton resident noticed the man allegedly stealing mail from a Playhouse Circle home on Feb. 10, according to Hampton Police Lt. Dan Gidley.

Gidley said Shushliannikov told officers he was "lost" and looking through the mailbox for an address, although Gidley said the officers "became suspicious when they saw 17 debit and credit cards in the mail not addressed to the homeowner, as well as a GPS in Shushliannikov's vehicle."

Following an interview with Shushliannikov after his arrest, Hampton detectives and a U.S. Postal Service inspector learned the theft was part of a larger identity theft and mail theft operation around the Cape Cod area of Massachusetts, according to Gidley.

Gidley said U.S. Postal Service inspectors have been investigating mail crimes in that area since January and were able to match Shushliannikov to photos of a suspect involved in thefts from multiple Cape Cod homes.

Gidley said investigators believe Shushliannikov had financial documents related to those identity thefts mailed to addresses of vacant summer homes and homes for sale in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, where he would later retrieve credit cards obtained using the information stolen from mailboxes.

Hundreds of pre-paid debit and credit cards, cash and other stolen mail was recovered during a search of Shushliannikov's Boston apartment on Feb. 14, according to Gidley. Gidley said investigators estimate the value of the cards and cash to be over $100,000.

Shushliannikov is expected to go trial in federal court on mail and identity theft charges, and the case was transferred to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts after Shushliannikov was arraigned in Hampton District Court on Feb. 11 and had a probable cause hearing on the Hampton charge on Wednesday, March 13, according to Gidley.

Shushliannikov is being held at the Rockingham County House of Corrections on bail, although Gidley said the man "is not eligible for release due to an immigration detainer."

The U.S. Postal Service, ICE, the U.S. Secret Service, the Hampton Police Department and various Massachusetts agencies are all involved in the investigation, according to Gidley.

Gidley urged anyone with information about the case or similar cases to contact the Hampton Police Department or the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

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