Man dressed as mail carrier steals checks, money orders from mailboxes in PA, feds say
A Pennsylvania man posed as a mail carrier and stole checks and money orders from mailboxes, officials say.
Zachkey James, 29, was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of stolen postal keys, possession of stolen mail, mail theft, wire fraud and other charges according to a Dec. 3 news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania and court records.
McClatchy News reached out to James’ attorney for comment but did not immediately hear back.
From 2020 until April 2022, James stole more than $300,000 from hundreds of people, according to officials.
James went around Philadelphia dressed as a mail carrier and used stolen arrow keys to steal mail out of United States Postal Services collection boxes, officials said.
“He rifled through the stolen mail, pulling out checks and money orders, altered the payee name on these checks and money orders to be payable to himself and co-conspirators,” prosecutors said.
James then cashed the checks and money orders or had them deposited into accounts.
On Dec. 8, 2021, James tried to cash four money orders and was detained, according to a criminal complaint. An employee at the check cashing business became suspicious of James and flagged his account, the court document said.
After he was arrested, James’ cell phone was searched, and authorities found pictures and text conversations related to altering money orders and checks, according to officials.
Postal inspectors searched James’ home and car and found piles of mail, hundreds of checks and money orders, mail-in-ballots, stolen arrow keys and a USPS mail carrier uniform, according to officials. Authorities also found tools used to wash checks and money orders, according to the release.
“These weren’t just pieces of paper that Zachkey James stole,” U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero said in the release. “These were people’s mortgage and utility payments, their loan payoffs, their child support checks — and for numerous victims, the repercussions of his thefts were devastating.”
In addition to the prison sentence, James was ordered to forfeit $345,681.68.
This story was originally published December 5, 2024 at 12:16 PM with the headline "Man dressed as mail carrier steals checks, money orders from mailboxes in PA, feds say."
