Postal Carrier Caught Stealing from Mail, Avoids Prison

Postal Carrier Avoids Prison Despite Stealing from Mail

A postal carrier in western New York has escaped prison time after being caught on camera stealing cash, lottery tickets, and other items from the mail. The woman, who has not been identified, pleaded guilty to theft of mail matter by an officer or employee in January and was sentenced to two years probation on May 10. Evidence of Theft According to court documents, community members in Rochester reported that their mail had been tampered with. In response, the U.S. Postal Service installed surveillance cameras in the employee's delivery vehicles, which recorded her from January 2022 to November 2023. The footage captured the woman rifling through nearly 90 pieces of mail on 38 separate occasions. On one occasion, the woman stole cash from two envelopes and put it into her wallet. Another time, she opened two envelopes and kept a lottery ticket found inside. She also stole ticket stubs and documents from the mail. The Investigation During the investigation, investigators carried out "mail integrity tests" by placing cash and gift cards inside greeting cards that the woman was supposed to deliver. On November 2, she was detained, and investigators executed a search warrant and found one of the gift cards inside her duffel bag. The investigation was led by the USPS Office of Inspector General, which has a long history of investigating postal theft. In recent years, the office has investigated cases of postal workers stealing drugs, letting coworkers snort cocaine off their desks, and driving around stealing checks from the mail.

Mitigation and Sentencing

Prior to sentencing, the woman faced up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. However, the federal judge who sentenced her considered several factors in mitigation, including her lack of a criminal record and her willingness to take responsibility for her actions. As part of her probation, the woman will be required to pay restitution to the victims of her theft. She will also be subject to random drug and alcohol testing and will be required to undergo mental health counseling. The woman's attorney has not responded to requests for comment, but it is clear that the woman's sentence is a reminder that postal theft is a serious crime that can have serious consequences.