Marina
A Florissant, Missouri mail carrier, Cambria M. Hopkins, 30, admitted in federal court to orchestrating a scheme to steal checks from the mail and sell her USPS arrow key—a tool granting access to postal collection boxes. This guilty plea reveals a coordinated effort that betrayed public trust.
Case Overview at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Cambria M. Hopkins, 30, mail carrier in Clayton, MO |
| Charges Admitted | Conspiracy; Unlawful use of mail key |
| Key Sold | USPS “arrow key” enabling access to mail collection boxes on March 20, 2022 |
| Scheme Timeline | August 2022 – August 2023 |
| Payment Methods | Cash, CashApp payments, groceries |
| Co-conspirator | Malik A. Jones, who used the key to steal mail; pleaded guilty in October 2024 |
| Sentencing Date | December 1, 2025 |
| Potential Penalties | Up to 5 years for conspiracy; up to 10 years for mail key charge |
| Investigators | USPS Office of Inspector General, USPS Inspection Service, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District MO |
Details of the Scheme
Hopkins admitted to accepting payment from Malik A. Jones in exchange for her arrow key—a high-level access key to postal collection boxes.
She also provided specifics on which boxes the key unlocked. Using this access, Jones orchestrated thefts of mail through accomplices.
Further, Hopkins herself removed checks from mail encountered over the span of a year and sold them to Jones.
Payments were made via cash, CashApp, and even through purchasing groceries—highlighting the deceptive veil under which the operation worked.
Legal Proceedings and Potential Sentences
Having pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy and unlawful use of a mail key, Hopkins now faces significant federal charges:
- Conspiracy: Up to 5 years imprisonment and a fine up to $250,000.
- Mail Key Misuse: Up to 10 years imprisonment.
She is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1, 2025. Malik A. Jones, her co-conspirator, previously pleaded guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft and awaits sentencing as well.
Law Enforcement Response
The case was investigated by multiple federal agencies, including the USPS Office of Inspector General, the USPS Inspection Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri.
The collaborative investigation underscores the seriousness of mail tampering and internal corruption.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow leads the prosecution, signaling the federal commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the nation’s mail system.
With her guilty plea, Cambria M. Hopkins has admitted to betraying the American postal system, compromising secured mail, and enabling fraud.
By selling a key and orchestrating theft of checks, Hopkins’ actions disrupted both trust and security.
As sentencing approaches, the case serves as a sobering reminder of vulnerabilities within institutional systems—and the consequences for those who exploit them.