Former USPS Employee Sentenced for Stealing Over $1.9 Million in Checks from Charlotte Post Office

22 May 2025

A former United States Postal Service employee in North Carolina was sentenced to 27 months in prison after he allegedly stole over $1.9 million in checks from P.O. boxes, according to federal prosecutors. Kevin Carter/Getty Images

A former United States Postal Service (USPS) employee from Charlotte, North Carolina, has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison after being convicted of stealing over $1.9 million worth of business checks from a local post office. The sentencing, which took place on May 20, 2025, also includes two years of supervised release following his prison term.

The individual, 28-year-old Dontavis Romario Truesdale, worked as a processing clerk at the Ballantyne Post Office between November 2022 and April 2023. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina, Truesdale used his position to access and steal business checks from P.O. boxes that he handled as part of his duties.

Over the course of several months, Truesdale stole more than 200 business checks, valued at over $1.9 million in total. Rather than keeping the checks for personal use, Truesdale sold them to co-conspirators. These individuals engaged in fraudulent banking activities by depositing the checks, altering their amounts, or creating counterfeit versions. In many cases, they managed to withdraw funds before financial institutions caught on to the fraud.

Federal prosecutors charged Truesdale with conspiracy to commit financial institution fraud, a felony that carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and up to a $1 million fine. He ultimately pleaded guilty to the charge and cooperated with the investigation. As part of his sentence, Truesdale must report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, though he is currently out on bond awaiting a designation to a prison facility.

Court records reveal that Truesdale’s criminal actions were part of a broader scheme involving multiple individuals. Authorities have not yet released the identities of his co-conspirators or confirmed whether additional arrests have been made in connection to the case.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and federal prosecutors emphasized that the case is a sobering reminder of the vulnerabilities in the mail system and the importance of internal integrity. “The public relies on the Postal Service to handle their mail securely,” said one postal inspector. “When that trust is broken from within, it undermines confidence and puts innocent people and businesses at risk.”

In addition to the prison time and supervised release, Truesdale may also be subject to restitution payments to the affected businesses. No specific restitution order has been announced yet, pending further court proceedings.

This incident has raised concerns among businesses and individuals who rely on USPS for secure mail delivery. Experts advise business owners to consider added precautions such as locking mailboxes, using certified mail services for sensitive documents, and regularly monitoring bank accounts for unusual activity.

The case against Truesdale marks one of the largest internal mail fraud cases reported in the region in recent years, and federal officials have assured the public that continued efforts are being made to detect and prosecute similar crimes.