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USPS mail carrier investigated in large-scale mail theft and fraud scheme

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Published  January 7, 2025 9:55pm CST
Crime and Public Safety
FOX 26 Houston

USPS worker accused of stealing identities from mail

A USPS worker is at the center of a large scale investigation. Records show the worker may have stolen identities in the mail, used the stolen credit cards to buy thousands of dollars in merchandise, and then flip that for a profit.

The Brief

    • A USPS employee is suspected of being involved in a large-scale mail theft scheme, where stolen identities were used to make fraudulent purchases.
    • The investigation uncovered a significant amount of stolen merchandise, including electronics, furniture, and other high-value items.
    • The incident highlights the importance of protecting personal information and reporting any suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities.

HOUSTON - A USPS carrier technician is at the center of a large-scale mail-theft and fraud scheme where investigators believe identities were stolen from the mail, according to an affidavit for a search warrant in the case. 

Cornelius J. Davis is charged with one crime and being investigated for several others, according to court documents. 

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Webster police arrested Davis last month. They said in a press release:

"On Monday, December 9, 2024, at approximately 10:45AM, the Webster Police Department responded to Academy Sports and Outdoors (located in the 21300 block of IH 45 Freeway in Webster, Harris County, Texas) in response to a suspect possibly using stolen credit cards to pick up merchandise. An undercover Webster Detective was posed as an Academy employee when the suspect presented a fraudulent driver’s license. The suspect was identified as Jermain Davis, a 26-year-old Black male, and placed under arrest for tampering with a document (3rd degree felony)."

The press release goes on to confirm that Davis is a USPS employee and that the USPS Office of the Inspector General is investigating. 

"During the thorough investigation, a search warrant was executed at a storage unit rented by Davis and officers recovered additional stolen merchandise. A second search warrant was executed at Davis’ apartment which resulted in additional stolen merchandise being recovered. Altogether, $7,000 in stolen merchandise has been recovered. This is still an active investigation, and additional charges are expected to be filed," the release stated. 

Documents say that investigators believe Davis would order big-box items for curbside pickup using stolen credit cards at different stores including an Academy in Houston and an Academy in Webster. 

The document says at the location in Webster alone, Davis completed 40 order pickups using 36 different names. 

The documents say that on the day of his arrest, he was headed to the Webster Academy to pick up an order worth about $650. 

The documents say the name on the credit card was a "Mary Parris", and Davis presented officers with a fraudulent temporary ID that read, "David Parris."

"He said he was my husband," said Mary. 

She said she noticed the charges and shut off her card quickly. 

"I checked my bank account and I had almost $700 in charges to Academy, so I froze my card because I knew I hadn't done it," she said. 

Mary says, days later, a detective from Webster called her, and she agreed to be a part of the case. 

"From what they told me, he had a copy of my driver's license, and which I had no idea how he had that," she said. 

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Court documents say that investigators recovered a Go-Kart that was purchased with a stolen credit card from a storage unit in Davis' name. 

They go on to say that investigators found numerous other in-box items at Davis' apartment, including air fryers, electric scooters, Yeti merchandise, furniture, tools, and much more. 

At this time, Davis is facing only one charge of tampering with a government record for allegedly showing officers a fake ID, but Webster police say additional charges are expected. He is currently out of jail after posting his bond. 

FOX 26 reached out to the USPS Office of the Inspector General for comment on the case, they replied with the following statement. 

"At this time, USPS OIG is not releasing any further information regarding this case.  As the investigation is with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, any release of information should be coordinated with their office.

The U.S. Postal Service employs more than 625,000 employees and is the largest civilian federal workforce in the country. This type of alleged behavior within the Postal Service is not tolerated and the overwhelming majority of Postal Service employees, who all serve the public, are honest, hardworking, and trustworthy individuals who would never consider engaging in any type of criminal behavior. "

They encourage people to report any wrongdoing by a US Postal Service employee at this link. 

FOX 26 reached out to Davis, his defense attorney, and USPS, but have yet to hear back from these parties.

The Source: FOX 26 Reporter Abigail Dye spoke with the USPS Office of the Inspector General as well as the victim about what happened. 

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