Postal worker aids in check thefts from mail, peddles mailbox keys to others in illegitimate trade.
In a shocking turn of events, Cambria M. Hopkins, a former postal employee in Clayton, Missouri, has admitted to her involvement in a scheme to steal mail containing personal information and business checks.
From August 2022 to August 2023, Hopkins sold checks to Malik A. Jones on multiple occasions. The scheme involved the theft of mail for personal gain, specifically business checks. On March 20, 2022, Hopkins sold her mail key, an "arrow key," to Jones.
Hopkins pleaded guilty to one conspiracy charge and one unlawful use of a mail key charge. The mail key charge carries up to 10 years in prison, while the conspiracy charge carries up to five years.
Jones, who was identified as the person involved in the theft of mail from the United States Postal Service, pleaded guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft on Oct. 25. He is waiting for sentencing.
In a statement, the Department of Justice revealed that Hopkins was the individual identified in the theft of mail from the United States Postal Service. Hopkins also admitted to stealing mail from her routes or from the post office.
Jones used Hopkins' key to open Postal Service collection boxes and steal mail with the help of others. He also admitted to recruiting people to let him deposit the stolen checks using their bank accounts.
The information about who recruited Jones to his job as a mail carrier before he purchased the mailbox keys from Hopkins on March 20, 2022, is not publicly available.
The Department of Justice issued a release regarding Hopkins' guilty plea. Hopkins' sentencing date has been scheduled for Dec. 1.
Jones is not the only one implicated in this case. The details of any potential co-conspirators are not yet known. However, the authorities are actively investigating the matter to bring all those involved to justice.
This case serves as a grim reminder of the importance of safeguarding personal and financial information. It also underscores the need for accountability within the postal service to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
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