Former USPS worker pleads guilty to stealing credit cards, checks from the mail — how to protect yourself

Yahoo

10 hours ago

Mary Ann Magdamit, a 31-year-old former employee of the United States Postal Service (USPS), recently pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud after allegedly stealing checks and credit cards from the mail and using the proceeds to purchase luxury goods.
The former letter carrier faces 30 years in prison after investigators reportedly found stolen bank cards and checks at her apartment in Carson, California.
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The case highlights the ongoing concerns about mail theft and employee integrity within the postal system, particularly as recent reports highlight a worsening problem at USPS.
A three-year operation
According to Magdamit's plea agreement, her mail theft operation at the Torrance Post Office in California reportedly spanned three years from 2022 to 2025.
During this period, Magdamit employed multiple strategies to profit from the mail she allegedly stole, which contained personal identification information, credit and debit cards, as well as checks. She then reportedly monetized these items by using the stolen bank cards to make purchases, distributing cards to co-conspirators and selling stolen bank cards online.
But the scheme extended beyond simple bank card theft. Magdamit also orchestrated a check-cashing operation, arranging for accomplices to cash stolen checks using counterfeit identity documents that matched the names of the legitimate check recipients. This included one check that totaled more than $45,000.
Magdamit was finally arrested on July 1 2025, at which time she was reportedly still making purchases with stolen cards. She remains in custody as she awaits her sentencing.
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Crime spree documented on social media
In December 2024, authorities executed a search warrant at Magdamit's apartment and found substantial evidence: more than 130 stolen debit and credit cards, 16 Department of Treasury checks, as well as a loaded, unserialized Glock clone which was described as a "ghost gun," a type of homemade firearm that is considered untraceable.
The search also uncovered numerous luxury goods allegedly purchased with the stolen cards and checks. Magdamit used the stolen items to fund an extravagant lifestyle, which also included international vacations to Aruba and Turks and Caicos.
According to the investigation, Magdamit frequently boasted about her criminal lifestyle on Instagram, where she posted images of luxury items, stacks of cash and other incriminating evidence. Security camera footage from stores such as Apple also captured Magdamit purchasing items with the stolen cards and checks.
As part of her plea arrangement, Magdamit has agreed to forfeit certain luxury items, including a Rolex watch, according to the Department of Justice.
Mail theft is a growing problem at USPS
A 2024 report by the Office of the Inspector General of the USPS found that closed internal theft cases at the postal service have increased by 47% since 2019. All told, investigators identified 5,961 closed cases of internal mail theft in that five-year period.
'As bad as you think it is, it's much worse! I mean, it's bad!' Frank Albergo, president of the Postal Police Officers Association, told NBC 7 San Diego.
'You have criminal organizations, gangs, that are actually recruiting people to get a job in the postal service so they can rob mail and drain bank accounts,' he added. 'That's literally what's happening.'
Fortunately, there are a few practical steps regular Americans can take to help safeguard their mail and reduce the risk of theft:
Secure your mail: Consider using a P.O. Box to increase security, and always retrieve your mail promptly to avoid leaving items unmonitored overnight. Deposit any outgoing mail directly at the post office instead of using collection boxes, and consider mail forwarding or holds when traveling to prevent accumulation.
Avoid sending vulnerable items: Don't send cash through the mail system. Use checks or electronic payments instead to help trace any theft or fraud.
Be proactive: Use tracking and signature confirmation for important or valuable items, and set up electronic notifications for bills and banking to quickly detect missing mail. You can also monitor your financial statements regularly for unauthorized transactions that might indicate stolen mail.
If you suspect your letter or package has been stolen, you can file a report on the USPS Inspection Service's website or by calling 1-877-876-2455.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.