Former USPS Worker Sentenced in Check Theft Case

A former USPS mail clerk has been sentenced for participating in a massive $24 million check theft conspiracy, but the intricacies of the scheme reveal even more shocking details.

Key Takeaways

Nakedra Shannon sentenced to 60 months for stealing over $24 million in checks.
Checks were sold on Telegram, resulting in hundreds of thousands of illicit profits.
Co-conspirators Carter and Gardner received 54 months in prison each, with Gardner having been sentenced back in July.
They owe $113,333.87 in restitution for their crimes.
Several federal agencies and local police investigated the case.

USPS Clerk Sentencing

Nakedra Shannon, a former U.S. postal worker, has been sentenced to 60 months in prison. Her crime involved a check theft scheme that unfolded in Charlotte, North Carolina. Shannon utilized her access as a mail processing clerk to extract checks, including sensitive U.S. Treasury checks, from the mail over a span of three months. The overall check theft from the U.S. mail was valued at over $24 million.

The plan involved Shannon conspiring with Desiray Carter and Donell Gardner. The checks stolen during April to July 2023 were subsequently sold via the Telegram platform. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in criminal proceeds were reportedly amassed from this illegal activity.

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— Insider Threat Defense Group (@InsiderThreatDG) February 8, 2025

Co-conspirators’ Sentencing

Co-conspirators Desiray Carter and Donell Gardner were each sentenced to 54 months in prison. Following their prison terms, Shannon and Carter face two years of supervised release, while Gardner will undergo three years of supervision. Additionally, the trio has been ordered to pay $113,333.87 as restitution. Gardner was reportedly sentenced back in July, with Shannon and Carter just sentenced last week.

The stolen checks’ monetary value included over $12 million in checks sold on Telegram and over $8 million in U.S. Treasury checks. Their actions resulted in severe financial and trust damages to the USPS and its patrons.

Investigation and Prosecution

The investigation was conducted by 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. The case’s successful prosecution was led by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Frick.

Shannon’s plea of guilt to conspiracy to commit financial institution fraud and the theft of government property underlines the seriousness of the crime. Her involvement from March 2021 until her arrest in July 2023 highlights the insider threat challenges faced by the USPS.