Former USPS Employee Pleads Guilty to Sports Memorabilia Theft

Shelby Dozier, a 34-year-old former employee of the United States Postal Service (USPS), has admitted to stealing valuable sports memorabilia and trading cards from parcels while working as a sorting clerk. The thefts took place at the Clifton Main Post Office in Clifton, New Jersey, between September 2022 and December 2022. Dozier, who had been with the USPS since August 2022, pleaded guilty to theft of mail by a postal service employee, a charge that carries a maximum potential sentence of five years.

According to court documents, Dozier intercepted at least ten parcels intended for a consignment auction house. The stolen items included multiple graded cards of NBA legend Michael Jordan, Mickey Mantle, as well as autographed photos of sports icons Rafael Nadal and Hank Greenberg. These items were valued at thousands of dollars, although the exact total remains unspecified. Dozier sold these items to individual collectors and collectible stores, profiting from the illicit sales.

Phone records revealed that during the period when the parcels went missing, Dozier made numerous calls to companies involved in the trading cards and sports collectibles industry. This evidence, combined with attendance records from the Clifton post office, indicated that Dozier was on duty during the times the valuable parcels disappeared. The U.S. Attorney's Office and the USPS Office of Inspector General spearheaded the investigation into Dozier's activities.

Dozier's arrest on September 12, 2024, followed a search of his iCloud account. Investigators discovered contacts of individuals and businesses who purchased the stolen memorabilia dating back to 2022. As part of his plea agreement, Dozier is required to pay $108,692.92 in restitution to compensate the victims for their losses.

The sentencing is set for April 22, 2024. The case highlights the vulnerability of mail systems to internal threats and underscores the importance of vigilant oversight to ensure the security of valuable parcels. The USPS has expressed its commitment to maintaining integrity within its workforce and protecting customers' property.