Alexandria Duncan, 23, of Buffalo, New York, pleaded guilty on Mar. 13 to conspiracy to commit mail theft before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about the security of mail and the consequences for those involved in stealing from postal services.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright said that between October 9 and October 14, 2024, Duncan conspired with co-defendant Timothee S. Tidwell to steal mail from receptacles in Hamburg, New York. They took articles from inside stolen letters and envelopes during this period. On October 14, Duncan drove Tidwell to Camp Road where he used a postal arrow key he was not authorized to possess to access a row of mailboxes outside the post office. After Tidwell exited the vehicle, Duncan drove across the street to a gas station where she was approached by a Village of Hamburg Police officer while Tidwell fled the scene.
Authorities said Duncan and Tidwell used the unauthorized postal arrow key to open various mailboxes in Hamburg and steal multiple items of mail. Law enforcement recovered both opened and unopened mail addressed to other people from Duncan’s vehicle on October 14. The opened mail included checks from individuals and businesses totaling approximately $369,104.92.
The investigation was conducted by the Village of Hamburg Police under Chief Richard Schara and the United States Postal Inspection Service under Acting Inspector-in-Charge Nicholas J. Bucciarelli of the Boston Division.
Sentencing for Duncan will be scheduled at a later date.
