Sean A. Walter, a 30-year-old resident of Humble, Texas, has pled guilty to charges related to the theft of business checks from U.S. Mail at an Albany postal facility. This was announced by Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon, along with Matthew Modafferi from the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG), and Ketty Larco-Ward from the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
Walter admitted to unlawfully entering the USPS Albany Processing and Distribution Center on six occasions during 2023 and 2024 to steal mail believed to contain business checks. On January 23, 2024, he forcefully entered the facility through a retractable overhead door and stole various pieces of mail which he placed in his backpack before leaving. He re-entered twice more that night to steal additional mail.
The criminal complaint states that Walter was arrested on May 14, 2024, after being confronted by security guards at the Albany PDC and fleeing to a nearby motel.
The stolen mail included checks drawn on accounts belonging to entities in Upstate New York such as a town government, a bank, a volunteer fire department, and several small businesses. Walter sold these checks knowing they would be altered for fraudulent negotiation by others. In his guilty plea, Walter acknowledged causing losses amounting to at least $242,159.76.
Additionally, Walter admitted to similar unlawful entries at the USPS North Houston PDC in Texas in 2022 where he also stole business checks.
Walter faces up to five years in prison and may be fined up to $250,000 with up to three years of supervised release following imprisonment when sentenced by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino on June 30, 2025. Restitution payments may also be ordered for his victims.
The case is being investigated by USPS-OIG and USPIS with Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett prosecuting.