DOJ: Former Tallahassee Postal Employee & Accomplice Sentenced for Federal Crimes

• Smith stole a postal key and gave it to Williams, enabling theft of mailed checks and fraudulent deposits.
• Williams received four years’ imprisonment and Smith received two years’ imprisonment for their roles in the scheme.

Taija Avion Smith, a former Tallahassee postal employee, and Jaheed Anthony Williams were sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit mail theft, theft of a mail key, bank fraud conspiracy, and aggravated identity theft. Smith stole a postal key and provided it to Williams, facilitating theft of mailed checks and fraudulent deposits.

Williams was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment for 14 counts of bank fraud, while Smith received two years’ imprisonment. The scheme involved fraudulent use of online bank login credentials and splitting proceeds from stolen checks. The investigation was conducted by multiple agencies, including USPIS and local law enforcement.

• 14 counts of bank fraud Williams pleaded guilty to

• Review employee access controls for postal keys and monitor for unauthorized use, referencing the Smith and Williams case.
• Audit financial institutions for fraudulent check deposits linked to stolen mail, as typified in this scheme.
• Update internal procedures to detect misuse of online bank login credentials, as seen in Smith's actions.

This case highlights the risks posed by insider threats and collusion in mail and bank fraud schemes. Compliance officers must ensure robust controls over access to sensitive assets like postal keys and monitor for fraudulent activity involving mailed checks and online banking credentials. The sentences demonstrate the seriousness of such crimes and underscore the need for vigilance and cooperation between financial institutions and law enforcement to detect and prevent similar schemes.