Former Mail Carrier Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing More than $1 Million of Checks from Mail
Melissa McAfee, a former U.S. Postal Service mail carrier, was sentenced to two years in prison for stealing mail containing checks and gift cards worth over $1 million.
2 reports on this incident · first at Aug 25, 2026, 11:51 a.m. ET
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Earlier reports
Aug 25, 2026, 11:51 a.m. ETFirst report
Former Mail Carrier Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing More than $1 Million of Checks from Mail
ATLANTA — Melissa McAfee, a former U.S. Postal Service mail carrier, was sentenced to federal prison on August 25, 2026, for stealing mail containing checks and gift cards worth more than $1 million, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
McAfee, 44, of Jonesboro, Georgia, pleaded guilty to possession of stolen mail on May 14, 2026. She was sentenced to two years in prison followed by two years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution.
According to U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg, from August 2022 to September 2024, McAfee worked as a mail carrier in the Smyrna, Georgia area. The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG) launched an investigation after receiving customer complaints about stolen mail along her route. Surveillance footage showed McAfee stealing mail, and investigators determined she stole 171 checks with a total value exceeding $1,035,000. A search warrant at her home uncovered envelopes from stolen mail, 145 stolen checks, and 37 stolen gift cards. When confronted in September 2024, McAfee resigned from the Postal Service.
“Mail carriers are entrusted with the responsibility of handling citizens’ valuable and personal communications, but McAfee abused that trust by stealing more than 200 checks and gift cards,” said U.S. Attorney Hertzberg. “My office works closely with our federal partners to aggressively prosecute any federal employee who misuses public office for private gain.”
Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Ulrich of the USPS-OIG said, “Today’s sentencing sends a strong message to anyone who thinks mail theft and check fraud will go unpunished. Our special agents, along with our federal and local law enforcement partners, will aggressively investigate these federal crimes to protect the sanctity of the U.S. Mail and maintain the public’s trust.”
The case was investigated by the USPS-OIG and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Samir Kaushal.
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- Version 125 Aug 2026, 15:52current
First published.
- Version 125 Aug 2026, 15:51current
First published.
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