California resident arrested for stealing mail-in ballots in Scottsdale, Arizona

Richard Anthony Ramos Jr., a 26‑year‑old from Stockton, California, was arrested on July 21, 2026 at the Scottsdale Hopi Post Office in Arizona after U.S. Postal Inspectors uncovered a scheme to steal outgoing mail, including unvoted mail‑in ballots. Investigators said Ramos used cardboard boxes as traps inside the collection box, retrieving them along with accumulated mail. The operation began as early as May 2026 and was first noticed when a customer reported mail getting stuck on June 30. Subsequent inspections, camera installations, and license‑plate readers led to his capture.

Ramos faces two counts of third‑degree burglary and one count of aggravated identity theft. The case highlights vulnerabilities in postal collection boxes and raises concerns about the security of mail‑in voting materials.