A Portland resident, Michael John Peters, age 42, has been charged with mail theft from several condominium and apartment complexes in Northwest and Southwest Portland. Court records state that Peters allegedly used counterfeit or altered postal keys to access mailboxes at least 12 times between May and September 2025.
Authorities reported that on September 23, 2025, U.S. Postal Inspectors carried out a federal search warrant at an apartment in the Pearl District. Peters had rented this apartment using a stolen identity. Investigators discovered about 300 pieces of U.S. mail not addressed to Peters, as well as false identification documents, stolen identity documents, and counterfeit checks.
Peters appeared for the first time in federal court before a U.S. Magistrate Judge and was ordered detained while further proceedings are pending.
The investigation was led by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with help from the Portland Police Bureau. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon is handling prosecution.
"A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty," authorities stated.
