ATLANTA — A former U.S. Postal Service mail carrier was sentenced to two years in federal prison for stealing mail containing checks and gift cards valued at over $1 million.
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Melissa McAfee, 44, of Jonesboro, Ga., was also ordered to serve two years of supervised release and pay restitution following her conviction.
McAfee stole the mail between August 2022 and September 2024 while delivering along a postal route in Smyrna, Ga. The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General initiated an inquiry after receiving multiple customer complaints regarding missing mail along her route.
During the investigation, agents with the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General obtained surveillance footage of McAfee stealing mail along her route. Investigators determined she stole mail containing 171 checks with a total value exceeding $1,035,000. Agents later executed a search warrant at McAfee’s home, discovering envelopes for stolen mail, 145 stolen checks and 37 stolen gift cards. When confronted by investigators in September 2024, McAfee resigned from the Postal Service.
McAfee pleaded guilty to possession of stolen mail on May 14, 2026.
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U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg addressed the breach of duty following the sentencing hearing.
“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,” Hertzberg said. “My office works closely with our federal partners to aggressively prosecute any federal employee who misuses public office for private gain.”
Jonathan Ulrich, special agent in charge of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, highlighted the effort between law enforcement agencies to maintain integrity in postal operations.
“Today’s sentencing sends a strong message to anyone who thinks mail theft and check fraud will go unpunished,” Ulrich said. “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.”
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