A shocking case of mail theft has come to light in Missouri, with a postal employee admitting to stealing checks from the mail and selling a key to her co-conspirators.
Cambria M. Hopkins, 30, of Florissant, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of unlawful use of a mail key.
According to court documents, Hopkins joined a conspiracy to steal mail to obtain personal and business checks, knowing that they would be used to commit fraud.
On March 20, 2022, Hopkins sold her ‘arrow key,’ which allows access to U.S. Postal Service collection boxes, to Malik A. Jones. She also told Jones which boxes the key would open.
Jones, now 28, paid others to steal mail using Hopkins’ key. Hopkins also stole mail at the Post Office and mail that she encountered on her route.
From roughly August 2022 to August 2023, Hopkins sold checks to Jones multiple times. He paid her in cash, via CashApp or in groceries.
Hopkins is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1. The conspiracy charge carries a potential penalty of up to 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both prison and a fine.
The mail key charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
Jones, who pleaded guilty on October 25 to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, is awaiting sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Related Federal Cases
- Russell Hopkins, Securities Fraud Conspiracy, Kansas City MO, 2023 · Missouri
- Shannon N Hill, Mail Theft, MO 2023 · Missouri
- Chrystal Lynn Bernstein, Mail and Check Theft, MO 2024 · Missouri
- Donald Hicklin, Bank Fraud and Identity Theft Conspiracy, VA 2023 · Pennsylvania
- Shannon Hill, Mail Theft, Kansas · Missouri
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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