Three Individuals Charged with Unlawfully Possessing U.S. Postal Service Key and Possession of Stolen Mail

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury yesterday indicted three individuals with possession of stolen mail and the unlawful possession of postal service keys, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and U.S. Postal Inspection Service Inspector-in-Charge Scott D. Fix, Houston Division.

A nine-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Derrell Allen Matthews, 25, of Birmingham and Keaundria Janae Gresham, 30, of Pleasant Grove, with conspiracy.  Matthews was also charged with paying a bribe to a public official, possession of U.S. Postal Service Keys, stolen or reproduced, and possession of stolen mail.  Gresham was also charged with public official accepting a bribe and possession of U.S. Postal Keys, stolen or reproduced. Steven Cornelius Hudson, Jr, 34, of Bessemer, was charged with possession of stolen mail. 

According to the indictment, Gresham was employed by the United States Postal Service (USPS) as a letter carrier and was assigned to a U.S. Post Office in Birmingham.  Between July 2022 and November 2022, Gresham used her position to provide unauthorized access to a USPS Arrow Keys to Matthews in exchange for money.  In October 2022, Matthews was found in possession of a postal service key and stolen mail. In April 2023, Matthews, along with co-defendant Hudson, Jr., was found in possession of a postal service key and stolen mail. 

If you like to report United States Postal Service mail theft or other crimes committed through or towards the United States Postal Service, please contact the United States Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455 or https://www.uspis.gov/report. 

The maximum penalty for conspiracy is five years in prison. The maximum penalty for unlawful possession of a postal service key is 10 years in prison. The maximum penalty for paying a bribe to a public official and a public official accepting a bribe is 15 years in prison. The maximum penalty for possession of stolen mail is five years in prison.

U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel McBrayer is prosecuting the case. 

An indictment contains only charges.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.