Former postal worker imprisoned for mail theft

ATLANTA - Zachary Adam Johnson has been sentenced for aggravated identity theft and mail theft.  The defendant was previously a part-time mail carrier for the postal service.

“This case shows the importance of concerned citizens reporting suspicious conduct to law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak.  “Without that call, the police never would have obtained a search warrant for Johnson’s car and found the large amount of stolen mail there.  We ask all citizens to remain vigilant and if you see something, say something.” 

“The Postal Inspection Service applauds the efforts of the bank employees who reported the suspicious activity of their customer’s account to law enforcement officials,” said David M. McGinnis, Inspector in Charge of the Charlotte Division. “Postal Inspectors will remain vigilant in pursuing criminals, like Johnson, to ensure the public's trust in a safe and secure mail system.”

According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges and other information presented in court: Johnson repeatedly broke into the U.S. Post Office in Snellville, Georgia, and stole mail.  After stealing the mail, Johnson would look through it for checks and money orders, then change the payees on those instruments to make them payable to himself, and cash them at local banks.  On one occasion, Johnson also forged the signature of the account owner on a check. 

On June 28, 2018, Johnson was arrested by the Snellville police department after an alert bank teller at Regions Bank observed that he was trying to cash a check with a forged signature from a longtime branch customer.  A search of Johnson’s car revealed five bins of stolen mail in the trunk.  Johnson was released on bond by a Gwinnett County judge, but continued his conduct.  On July 7 and 9, 2018, while on bond in his Gwinnett county case, Johnson was captured on surveillance video breaking into the post office and stealing mail. 

Zachary Adam Johnson, 41, of Loganville, Georgia, has been sentenced to two years, one day in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.  On November 13, 2018, Johnson pled guilty to one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of mail theft.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which has already notified the victims it was able to identify from the seized stolen mail.  The Snellville police department also assisted with this case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alana R. Black prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.