A 29-year-old mail carrier named Cambria Hopkins from Florissant, Missouri, was taken into custody on Thursday. She was arrested based on an indictment that alleges she sold a key to a U.S. Postal Service mail collection box and distributed stolen checks that she obtained from the mail.
Filed on October 30, the indictment charges her with conspiracy, unlawful use of a mail key, and bribery. Hopkins, a former postal carrier in Clayton, Missouri, reportedly engaged in the sale of an “arrow key” to Malik A. Jones on March 20, 2022.
It is alleged that Hopkins was fully aware that the key would be utilized for the purpose of mail theft. Furthermore, the indictment asserts that Hopkins not only took mail that was under her control but also extracted checks from it. These checks were then handed over to Jones in exchange for cash, electronic payments made through CashApp, and even groceries.
Jones, who is 27 years old, had already admitted his guilt on October 25 for the offenses of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. His sentencing is set to take place on January 30, 2025.
An indictment charges individuals with accusations, but it does not serve as proof of guilt. It is important to remember that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Special Agent in Charge Dennus Bishop of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General expressed his appreciation for the efforts put in by USPS OIG Special Agents and U.S. Postal Inspectors, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in successfully bringing charges against the individuals involved in this major mail theft case. He emphasized that the majority of postal employees are committed public servants who work diligently to ensure that mail reaches its intended recipients.
Inspector in Charge Ruth Mendonça of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Chicago Division, highlighted that the U.S. Postal Inspection Service serves as the federal law enforcement branch of the U.S. Postal Service, entrusted with safeguarding the country’s mail system against unlawful activities. Working closely with our law enforcement counterparts, the Postal Inspection Service is committed to investigating and bringing to justice individuals involved in financial fraud resulting from mail theft.
The maximum penalty for the conspiracy charge is 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of the mail key charge, the sentence can be up to 10 years. As for the bribery charge, it carries a punishment of up to 15 years in prison.
The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are currently conducting an investigation into the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow has been assigned as the prosecutor for this case.
