Ohio Postal Employee Stole Mail, Gift Cards: Indictment

CLEVELAND — A former Northeast Ohio U.S. Postal Service worker has been sentenced to prison for her role in a scheme to steal mail and commit access device fraud, the Department of Justice announced. Jennifer Riccardi, 46, will spend 56 months in prison and was ordered to pay $89,000 in restitution.

“This defendant is accused of stealing more than a thousand gift cards worth tens thousands of dollars, including birthday presents or other gifts people entrusted to the postal service for delivery to their family and loved ones. As we approach the holiday season, it is important to remind anyone who is thinking of stealing from the mail that they will be held accountable for their actions, just like any other criminal," said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman.

Riccardi's live-in boyfriend, Joseph Dennis, has also pleaded guilty for his role in the mail theft scheme. He will be sentenced January 21, 2020.

According to the indictment against Riccardi, began stealing mail in December 2016. She targeted letters and packages she believed held gift cards, focusing mostly on brightly covered envelopes which appeared to contain greeting cards.

She would hide the mail in bags, her lunch box and on her person then drive the stolen mail home during her mid-shift break, the indictment said. Dennis would go through the mail once it was brought home.

Between December 2016 and December 2017, Riccardi sold at least 41 gift cards and used stolen gift cards to buy items from Amazon, Kohl's and Starbucks, the indictment said. When authorities searched her house on December 11, 2017, they found 108 pieces of stolen mail, $42,000 in cash, an automatic currency counter and 1,505 stolen gift cards. Most of the gift cards still held their face value.

The Department of Justice said that in one night alone, Riccardi stole more than 100 greeting cards. She stole mail from a mother to her daughter, signed "Love you! Mom" and a card from an uncle and aunt wishing a child a "Happy 1st Birthday."

“The vast majority of the 500,000 postal employees nationwide are hard-working, trust worthy individuals. However, when one of those employees choose to violate that trust and steal from the mail for personal gain, special agents with the USPS OIG will vigorously investigate and pursue federal prosecution when appropriate. When postal employees choose to steal from the mail, they risk their career, benefits, retirement, and possibly their freedom. To report theft of mail, or other postal employee crimes, contact special agents at www.uspsoig.gov or 888-USPS-OIG," said U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General Special Agent Kenneth Cleevely.