A former U.S. Postal Service employee and her accomplice have received prison sentences for orchestrating a mail theft and bank fraud scheme spanning three years.
Taija Avion Smith, 25, was sentenced to two years in prison, while her accomplice Jaheed Anthony Williams, 24, received a four-year sentence, according to reporting from Florida Politics.
Smith worked for the U.S. Postal Service from March 2021 through May 2024. Prosecutors allege she stole a postal key from her position and provided it to Williams. The pair used the key to access mail containing checks, which they fraudulently deposited at financial institutions and used to split proceeds between them.
As part of the conspiracy, Smith also obtained and used other people's online banking login credentials, according to prosecutors.
Both defendants pleaded guilty to multiple charges including conspiracy to commit mail theft, theft of a mail key, bank fraud conspiracy, and multiple counts of aggravated identity theft. Williams additionally pleaded guilty to 14 counts of bank fraud.
U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin commented on the case, stating that Smith violated the position of trust she held within the postal service.
The investigation involved the Tallahassee Police Department, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the USPS Office of Inspector General.
