EVANSVILLE, IN – A Princeton, Indiana couple is facing a long stretch behind bars after being sentenced for a brazen mail theft scheme that raked in nearly $2 million, coupled with serious firearms offenses. Michael Jerome Wright, 45, and Cortney Lashea Young, 36, received a combined 14 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a slew of charges.
Wright was sentenced to 12 years for mail theft, unlawful possession of a mail key, access device fraud, aggravated identity theft, possession of ammunition by a felon, and possession of a machinegun. Young received a 2-year sentence for mail theft and possession of a firearm by a felon. Both will also serve three years of supervised release upon completion of their prison terms. The case, investigated by multiple federal and local agencies, reveals a calculated operation targeting the U.S. Postal Service and exploiting the trust placed in it.
The investigation began in 2023 with a surge of complaints regarding stolen mail and forged checks. Evansville Police Department officers initiated surveillance of USPS collection boxes in March and April 2024. On six separate occasions, they observed Wright using an arrow key – a specialized lock-opening tool for postal facilities – to illegally access the mail. Young was identified as the driver of the getaway vehicle on at least two of those occasions. A traffic stop on April 3, 2023, yielded the arrow key and stolen mail directly in the vehicle.
A subsequent search of Wright and Young’s Princeton apartment uncovered the scope of their operation. Investigators found hundreds of stolen checks totaling $1,857,460.91. But the illicit activity didn’t stop at financial fraud. Hidden under the mattress in their bedroom were two handguns. Wright’s side concealed a partially 3D-printed “ghost gun” – a privately made firearm without a serial number – equipped with a “Glock switch,” a device converting it into a fully automatic weapon, rendering it a machinegun under federal law. Young’s side yielded a Ruger pistol.
Both defendants have extensive criminal histories that further complicated their situation. Wright has prior felony convictions including murder, dealing in synthetic drugs, and multiple traffic offenses. Young has a prior conviction for fraud. These prior convictions prohibited them both from legally possessing firearms or ammunition. Investigators also discovered 30 debit and credit cards belonging to other individuals, alongside a notebook containing names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers, in Wright’s backpack.
“Americans rely on the U.S. Postal Service to securely deliver everything from birthday cards to critical financial documents,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Childress for the Southern District of Indiana. “This couple exploited that trust through a widespread mail theft and identity fraud scheme that caused two million dollars in losses, while arming themselves with very dangerous illegal weapons. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who target the public and abuse systems we all depend on.” The case underscores the growing threat of mail theft coupled with illegal firearms proliferation, demanding a coordinated response from law enforcement agencies.
RELATED: Princeton Pair Dressed to Steal: Mail Thieves Nabbed with $1 Million in Stolen Goods
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Key Facts
- State: Indiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Weapons|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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