Former Postal Worker Pleads Guilty to Stealing Checks in St. Louis

Benita D. Randle, a former U.S. Postal Service employee, pleaded guilty on May 5, 2026, in the Eastern District of Missouri to one count of theft of mail, per the Department of Justice press release.

The theft involved checks stolen from mail processed in St. Louis, affecting an unspecified number of recipients who relied on the postal system for financial transactions. Per the press release, Randle's actions targeted mail items containing checks, disrupting delivery for individuals and businesses in the region.

The U.S. Postal Service handles over 142 billion pieces of mail annually, with St. Louis serving as a key hub for Midwest distribution, meaning such thefts can impact thousands of daily transactions in that area alone.

Prior to the plea, Randle faced charges without admission of guilt; now, with the guilty plea entered, her case moves directly to sentencing without a trial. The change takes effect immediately, with a sentencing hearing to be scheduled by the court within standard federal timelines, typically 60 to 90 days from the plea date.

The plea activates federal sentencing guidelines for mail theft by a postal employee, which carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and fines up to $250,000 under 18 U.S.C. § 1709. Prosecutors must now submit sentencing recommendations, and the court will consider factors like the value of stolen items before imposing punishment.

This resolution also allows the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Missouri to allocate resources to other cases, while the Postal Inspection Service continues investigations into similar incidents nationwide.

The case stems from an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, following reports of missing checks in St. Louis mail routes. This marks at least the third such postal theft plea in Missouri federal courts since 2024, per public Department of Justice records.