Knoxville, TN – A weekend traffic stop in north Knoxville led to the discovery of nearly $1 million in suspected stolen checks, according to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO).
Authorities said that around 1:42 p.m. on Sunday, October 5, a patrol deputy pulled over a black Infiniti SUV traveling northbound on Clinton Highway. Deputies reported smelling marijuana coming from the vehicle. The front-seat passenger, identified as Dontray Ligon, 28, allegedly stated that the SUV belonged to him and gave permission for a search.
According to KCSO, deputies located two lunchboxes containing large quantities of suspected stolen check-related mail. Ligon was taken into custody without incident, and the case was referred to the KCSO Property Crimes Unit.
Detectives have since linked multiple victims to the recovered mail, bringing the total estimated loss to $972,051.63, investigators said.
Ligon, who reportedly works for the U.S. Postal Service in Knoxville, is accused of stealing mail from the facility. He now faces Class A felony charges for theft of $250,000 or more and mail theft of $250,000 or more. Additional charges may follow as federal postal inspectors continue to assist in the case.
Anyone who believes they may be a victim is urged to contact KCSO Property Crimes Detectives at 865-215-2243 or email crimetips@knoxsheriff.org.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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