Alexandria Duncan, 23, of Buffalo, New York, pleaded guilty on Mar. 13 to conspiracy to commit mail theft, according to U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about the security of mail and the consequences for those involved in stealing from postal services. Authorities say that between October 9 and October 14, 2024, Duncan conspired with co-defendant Timothee S. Tidwell to steal mail from receptacles in Hamburg, New York.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright, Duncan drove Tidwell to Camp Road early on October 14, where Tidwell used a postal arrow key he was not authorized to possess to access a row of mailboxes outside the post office. After dropping off Tidwell, Duncan drove across the street to a gas station where she was approached by a Village of Hamburg Police officer; during this interaction, Tidwell fled the scene.
Law enforcement later recovered both opened and unopened mail addressed to other people from Duncan’s vehicle. The opened mail included checks from various individuals and businesses totaling approximately $369,104.92.
The investigation was conducted by the Village of Hamburg Police under Chief Richard Schara and the United States Postal Inspection Service under Acting Inspector-in-Charge Nicholas J. Bucciarelli of the Boston Division.
Sentencing for Duncan will be scheduled at a later date.
