A former U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employee in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for orchestrating a significant mail theft scheme that resulted in the loss of over $1.9 million.
Dontavis Romario Truesdale, 27, was employed as a mail processing clerk at the Ballantyne Post Office from November 2022 to April 2023. During this period, he exploited his position to steal more than 200 business checks from post office boxes. These checks had a combined face value exceeding $1.9 million. Truesdale sold the stolen checks to co-conspirators, who deposited them into controlled bank accounts and swiftly withdrew the funds before the fraudulent activity could be detected by financial institutions .
This case is part of a broader pattern of mail theft incidents in the Charlotte area. In a separate case, a group led by Terrell Devon Freeman utilized a stolen USPS master key to access collection boxes, stealing checks totaling approximately $3 million. Freeman was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison for his role in the scheme .
Federal authorities are intensifying efforts to combat such crimes, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the integrity of the postal system. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the USPS Office of Inspector General continue to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in mail theft and related financial fraud.
To protect against mail theft, officials recommend promptly retrieving mail, using secure mailboxes, and monitoring financial accounts for unauthorized transactions. Suspicious activities should be reported to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Truesdale’s sentencing serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of mail theft and the federal government’s commitment to prosecuting such offenses.