PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia man who posed as a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mail carrier to steal checks and commit financial fraud was sentenced on Wednesday to 48 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Zachkey James, 29, was also ordered to forfeit $345,681.68, the amount he stole through his elaborate mail theft scheme.
James pleaded guilty earlier this year to a 12-count superseding information, admitting to charges including impersonating a USPS mail carrier, unlawful possession of USPS Arrow Keys, mail theft, and possession of stolen mail. Between 2020 and his arrest in November 2022, James used stolen Arrow Keys to access USPS collection boxes, stealing mail that included checks and money orders.
According to U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero, James altered the payee names on the stolen checks and deposited the funds into accounts he controlled. “These weren’t just pieces of paper that Zachkey James stole,” Romero said. “These were people’s mortgage and utility payments, their loan payoffs, their child support checks — and for numerous victims, the repercussions of his thefts were devastating.”
When federal agents searched James’s apartment and vehicle, they discovered stolen mail, forged checks, solvent and tools used to alter checks, multiple USPS Arrow Keys, and a USPS letter carrier uniform. Among the stolen mail were 15 undelivered mail-in ballots, which were promptly delivered to the appropriate election board.
Christopher Nielsen, Inspector in Charge of the Philadelphia Division of the Postal Inspection Service, emphasized the agency’s commitment to protecting the integrity of the mail. “When someone steals mail, Postal Inspectors will work relentlessly to hold those individuals to account,” Nielsen said.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Brown.