Shushan Postal Worker Admits to Years of Package Pilfering

ALBANY, NEW YORK – A trusted face delivering the mail was, in reality, a thief, according to federal prosecutors. Colleen McAvoy, 54, of Shushan, New York, pleaded guilty today to systematically stealing from the very people she was sworn to serve. The former United States Postal Service employee confessed to ripping open packages and pocketing cash, gift cards, and even lottery tickets.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by Carla B. Freedman, and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the USPS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Northeast Area, announced the guilty plea. The investigation revealed a pattern of theft spanning from August 2018 to October 2020, while McAvoy was a part-time letter carrier assigned to the Cambridge Post Office in Washington County.

McAvoy didn’t just glance at the contents; she deliberately opened packages, seeking out U.S. currency, prepaid gift cards – a favorite among thieves – and the quick scratch of lottery tickets. The total haul, according to her own admission, amounted to approximately $4,889.25. That’s nearly five grand stolen from unsuspecting residents of Washington County.

The 54-year-old McAvoy now faces the potential of up to 5 years in federal prison when Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn hands down the sentence on March 16, 2022. While sentencing guidelines and various factors will influence the judge’s decision, the damage is done. McAvoy has also agreed to make full restitution for the stolen funds – a small consolation to those victimized by her betrayal.

The USPS, Office of the Inspector General spearheaded the investigation, with crucial assistance from the Village of Cambridge (N.Y.) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett is prosecuting the case, ensuring that McAvoy is held accountable for her brazen breach of trust. This isn’t just about stolen money; it’s about the erosion of faith in a vital public service.

Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing of Colleen McAvoy. This incident serves as a stark reminder that even those in positions of trust are capable of criminal behavior, and that the USPS OIG is actively working to root out corruption within the postal system.

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