Clayton postal worker charged in mail theft scheme that sought $1 million
ST. LOUIS — A Clayton postal worker has been charged in federal court with conspiracy and bribery after authorities say she sold her master key to a mail thief in a check-cashing scheme that sought more than $1 million.
Cambria M. Hopkins, 29, of Florissant, was indicted by a federal grand jury Oct. 30 on charges of conspiracy, unlawful use of a mail key and bribery of a public official.
Hopkins was indicted just days after co-defendant Malik A. Jones pleaded guilty in the scheme. Hopkins was arrested Tuesday at work at the post office in Clayton.
Authorities allege the crimes took place over about 17 months, from March 2022 to August 2023. Hopkins is accused of selling Jones her U.S. Post Office master key, called "an arrow key," that opens mail collection boxes.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated multiple cases of mail theft and check fraud all over St. Louis County, in partnership with area police departments and the U.S. Attorney's Office. Most of the mail was stolen from freestanding blue mailboxes.
The key opened the boxes, and the thieves would steal mail and the checks in the letters. Federal agents found deposits totaling more than $1 million, according to documents in U.S. District Court.
Federal authorities said that while the scheme sought more than $1 million, Jones got $5,807 in proceeds. Typically some of the checks get rejected, said Robert Patrick, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office.
According to court documents, Jones and Hopkins worked with others who weren't identified. The thieves would communicate about their work using social media and encrypted messaging apps, authorities said.
They would steal business and personal checks found in the mail, the indictment said. Using a cash app, Jones paid Hopkins at least seven times, totaling more than $3,300, for the key and stolen mail, authorities said. He once paid $496 in groceries to be delivered to Hopkins, charges said.
Jones, 27, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty Oct. 25 to federal charges of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. His sentencing is set for Jan. 30 before District Judge Catherine D. Perry.
As spelled out in the plea agreement, Jones' scheme unfolded like this: He recruited people using an Instagram account to deposit fraudulent checks into their bank accounts, then Jones would withdraw the money. Jones gave the account holders a portion of the stolen money in exchange for their debit cards and other bank information.
They would take photos of checks they stole in the mail and of the ATM receipts of the deposited checks. They would post the photos on the messaging app Telegram and discuss what they had done. Federal agents monitored these channels and saw receipts of more than $1.1 million.
Magistrate Judge Stephen R. Welby ordered Hopkins be released without bail on her promise to show up in court, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court. One of the conditions of her release is that she resign from the post office. A spokesman for the post office, Mark Inglett, has not replied to an email seeking comment Friday.
Hopkins' mugshot was not available Friday.
The conspiracy charge is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Unlawful use of the mail key is a crime punishable by up to 10 years, and the bribery charge is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
& Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Breaking news reporter
