Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
A former mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service has admitted to stealing prescription medications from customers along his route in Somerville, Massachusetts. Michael Vernon, 52, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of mail by a postal officer or employee. His sentencing is scheduled for April 2, 2026 before U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy.
Vernon was arrested and charged in September 2025 after authorities discovered over 1,000 pieces of undelivered mail and 17 bottles of prescription pills in his personal vehicle on January 31, 2024. The stolen medications belonged to ten different postal customers, most of whom were elderly.
The drugs included Gabapentin, Chlorthalidone, Citalopram, Bupropion, Glipizide, Butalbital, Atomoxetine, Escitalopram and Tamsulosin Hydrochloride—medications commonly prescribed for conditions such as nerve pain, seizures, diabetes, high blood pressure, enlarged prostate issues, depression, anxiety and ADHD. Some pill bottles had prescription dates going back as far as June 2022.
If convicted on the charge of theft of mail by a postal employee, Vernon faces up to five years in prison and three years of supervised release. He could also be fined up to $250,000. Sentencing will follow federal guidelines and statutes that determine penalties in criminal cases.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley stated: "United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office made the announcement today." Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Wichers from the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit is handling prosecution.
