Lee County man accused of stealing checks from mailbox

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. — Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers needs the public’s assistance in finding a 33-year-old man accused of stealing checks from a mailbox and cashing several.

Dylan Goetz allegedly stole a box of blank checks from at least one mailbox on Slater Pines Drive just before Christmas. A victim returned from vacation to find all the mailboxes on his street were open and empty.

A few days later, he received a phone call from his bank to verify that he wrote several checks that were made payable to Goetz, according to Crime Stoppers. The account had just been opened, and although a box of checks were ordered, the victim never received them.

Instead, Goetz stole the checks from the mailbox, wrote them up, and cashed two checks payable to himself from that account, authorities believe. When Goetz tried to cash additional checks from the account, a savvy teller opted to verify the authenticity of the checks and subsequently declined payment.

After learning that the checks couldn’t be cashed, Goetz escaped and hasn’t been seen since, Crime Stoppers said.

Goetz is a repeat offender with a dozen prior arrests in Lee County. He’s faced charges of hit and run, drug possession, the sale and delivery of marijuana and cocaine, trafficking heroin, battery/domestic violence, DUI and resisting officers.

He’s a registered felon who is currently on state supervision until August 2018.

Stealing mail is a federal offense, and if convicted, Goetz could face a $250,000 fine and five years in prison. He also faces at least one felony forgery charge.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Goetz is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000. Tips may also be made online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com or by submitting a tip on the P3Tips app.