Former USPS Worker Hit With Prison Sentence Over Major Check Theft Scheme

Former USPS clerk Nakedra Shannon and two co-conspirators have been sentenced for their roles in a massive $24 million check theft scheme in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Quick Takes

Former USPS clerk Nakedra Shannon has been sentenced to 60 months in prison for stealing $24 million worth of checks.
Co-conspirators Desiray Carter and Donell Gardner each received 54-month sentences.
The stolen checks were sold on Telegram, including U.S. Treasury checks.
The group must pay $113,333.87 in restitution.
Case highlights vulnerabilities in the postal system and the need for enhanced security measures

Massive Check Theft Scheme Uncovered

A former U.S. Postal Service clerk in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been sentenced to five years in prison for her role in a brazen check theft scheme that resulted in the theft of over $24 million worth of checks from the U.S. mail. Nakedra Shannon, who worked as a mail processing clerk at a USPS distribution center in Charlotte from March 2021 to July 2023, conspired with two others to carry out the audacious crime.

Shannon’s co-conspirators, Desiray Carter and Donell Gardner, were each sentenced to 54 months in prison for their part in the scheme. Gardner, however, was already sentenced back in July. The thefts occurred between April and July 2023, during which time the group managed to steal millions of dollars worth of checks, including over $8 million in U.S. Treasury checks.

U.S. Postal employee & co-conspirator receive prison time for stolen check #scheme.
w/ @IRS_CI @USPIS_CLT @OIGUSPS @CMPD https://t.co/Gq9QyDVTYe pic.twitter.com/7Xb30x6tyg

— U.S. Attorney WDNC (@USAO_WDNC) February 7, 2025

High-Tech Criminal Enterprise

The stolen checks were not simply cashed or deposited. Instead, the group utilized modern technology to profit from their ill-gotten gains. They sold the stolen checks on the messaging platform Telegram, including on a channel called “OG Glass House.” This high-tech approach allowed them to reach a wider network of potential buyers and maximize their criminal proceeds.

The scale of the operation was staggering. According to official statements, over $12 million in stolen checks were posted for sale on the Telegram channel alone. This modern twist on mail theft demonstrates the evolving nature of postal crimes and the need for enhanced security measures within the U.S. Postal Service.

Sentencing

U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, Dena J. King, announced the sentencing, emphasizing the severity of the crime and the consequences faced by the perpetrators. In addition to their prison terms, Shannon and Carter will face two years of supervised release, while Gardner will have three years of supervision following his incarceration.

The court also ordered the trio to pay $113,333.87 in restitution, jointly and severally. This financial penalty, while significant, pales in comparison to the millions stolen through their scheme. It serves as a reminder of the long-lasting consequences of their actions, both for themselves and for the victims of their crimes.

A Multi-Agency Effort

The investigation and prosecution of this case involved a coordinated effort from multiple federal agencies. The U.S. Postal Service’s Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Department of Treasury Bureau of the Fiscal Service, and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department all played crucial roles in bringing these criminals to justice.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by the U.S. Postal Service in safeguarding the mail and maintaining public trust. It also highlights the importance of continued vigilance and the need for robust security measures to protect against insider threats and sophisticated criminal schemes targeting the postal system.