Rebecca C. Lutzko United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio
A Cleveland man pleaded guilty on March 9 to charges related to the robbery of a U.S. Postal Service worker and a conspiracy to steal and cash checks, according to federal authorities.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about mail theft and fraud schemes targeting the U.S. Postal Service and financial institutions.
Je’Vion Tolliver-Maddox, 21, admitted his involvement in robbing a postal carrier of an arrow key used for opening mail collection boxes. The incident occurred on Sept. 9, 2025, when Tolliver-Maddox and co-conspirator Terran Johnson allegedly threatened the postal worker with a firearm on Cleveland’s West 48th Street. After obtaining the key, they fled in Tolliver-Maddox’s white Ford SUV. Later that day, Tolliver-Maddox reported his vehicle stolen to police despite evidence showing he was present during the robbery.
Authorities said Tolliver-Maddox altered checks stolen from USPS mailboxes by adding his name before depositing them into his bank accounts. He also recruited others through social media platforms to deposit fraudulent checks into their own accounts. The banks affected included U.S. Bank, Citizen’s Bank, PNC Bank, Huntington, Citi Bank, Fifth Third Bank, and First Bank—all insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
A federal grand jury indicted Johnson on March 4 for his alleged role in the conspiracy and for using a firearm during the robbery. Johnson faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted; however, an indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt.
Tolliver-Maddox is scheduled for sentencing on July 9 and could receive up to 30 years in prison.
The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and Cleveland Division of Police conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Brenna L. Fasko led the prosecution for the Northern District of Ohio.
USPIS serves as the law enforcement branch of the United States Postal Service. Individuals can report mail theft or related crimes by calling USPIS at 1-877-876-2455 or visiting uspis.gov/report.
