A postal worker from Florissant, Missouri, has admitted to participating in a scheme to steal checks from the mail and sell access keys used for theft. Cambria M. Hopkins, 30, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and unlawful use of a mail key. Hopkins was employed as a postal carrier in Clayton when she joined others in stealing mail to obtain personal and business checks for fraudulent purposes.
According to court documents, on March 20, 2022, Hopkins sold her “arrow key,” which grants access to U.S. Postal Service collection boxes, to Malik A. Jones. She also informed Jones about which boxes the key would open. Jones then paid others to use the key for stealing mail.
Hopkins further admitted that she stole mail both at the Post Office and while on her delivery route. Between August 2022 and August 2023, she sold stolen checks multiple times to Jones in exchange for cash, CashApp payments or groceries.
Hopkins is scheduled for sentencing on December 1. The conspiracy charge could result in up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine; the unlawful use of a mail key carries a maximum sentence of ten years.
Jones previously pleaded guilty on October 25 to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft charges and is awaiting sentencing. He acknowledged recruiting individuals who allowed him access to their bank accounts so he could deposit forged or fraudulent checks stolen from the mail.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting the case.
“The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case.”
