Couple’s 25-state crime spree ends in Ohio
TOLEDO — After a six-month crime spree spanning 25 states, Perrysburg Township police arrested what one detective called “a modern version” of Bonnie and Clyde after the pair were spotted stealing from mailboxes.
Jason T. Majercik, 43, who was released from prison in May, and Christine Turcoliveri, 31, stole mail and automobiles from at least 25 states since October, police said. The thefts were part of an elaborate scheme in which they’d dissolve ink from bills to falsify checks.
Authorities finally caught up to them the morning of March 10 in Perrysburg Township in Wood County, thanks to an eagle-eyed resident who witnessed them pilfering bills and personal information from residential mailboxes with flags raised as a signal that there was outgoing mail.
“It started with an alert citizen,” detective Sgt. Todd Curtis said. “He saw the couple steal the mail, he noted the color of their car.”
When they saw the police, they tried to ditch the car behind an abandoned house. The woman put up a fight, but the man went into custody without incident, Curtis said.
“It’s a good day for law enforcement,” he said, explaining that multiple agencies across 25 states were looking for them.
Just about wherever they went, the couple gave fake names and used fake identifications, whether it was cashing checks at banks or renting motel rooms, Curtis said.
“They basically would look for bills people were sending out,” he said.
Once they had personal checks in their possession, they used a special chemical to dissolve ink on them so they could write checks to themselves. Majercik in particular is a “smooth talker” who, once he had someone’s personal information, could persuade bank tellers into cashing checks, the detective said.
Authorities found the chemical they used and other evidence in a Wood County motel where they were staying, he said.
They periodically stole autos and swapped out license plates they swiped, he said.
“They seemed to be targeting smaller communities near the interstates,” Curtis said.
He likened it to a Bonnie-andClyde caper, except with “modern-day schemes.”
Arresting a couple like that is “not an everyday occurrence, obviously,” Curtis said.
The two were booked into the Wood County Justice Center March 10 on multiple felony charges of theft, receiving stolen property and possession of criminal tools in addition to misdemeanor obstructing justice. Turcoliveri is additionally charged with misdemeanor resisting arrest.
The case will be presented to a grand jury, Curtis said.
“It’s gonna save a lot of people from future headaches,” he said of the arrests, adding that the case is a wake-up call for people to be more careful with their outgoing mail.
When arrested, the two were in possession of stolen mail and license plates from multiple locations, along with drug paraphernalia, police
“It started with an alert citizen. He saw the couple steal the mail, he noted the color of their car.”
— Detective Sgt. Todd Curtis
said. The vehicle they were driving was reported stolen in West Virginia.
Curtis said the couple admitted to stealing financial documents and tax returns too.
Majercik’s last listed address was in Madison, in Lake County east of Cleveland. Turcoliveri’s last address was in Ontario, Ohio, near Mansfield. The two had been in northwest Ohio for at least five days.
They admitted to theft in Fremont, Sandusky, Norwalk, Oak Harbor and Clyde. Curtis said they specifically admitted using forged checks in Oak Harbor and Clyde.
Majercik had an outstanding federal warrant for mail fraud, while Turcoliveri was wanted on a felony robbery warrant from Eastlake. Among their possessions were written website addresses to online news coverage of their activities in Iowa and in the Cleveland area, Curtis said.