Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Jere Campbell was indicted for forgery, identity theft, grand larceny and other crimes for allegedly stealing mail and cashing money orders intended for others while working as a clerk at the Whitestone Post Office. Campbell is alleged to have stolen more than $20,000 in a 15-month period. Some of the stolen money orders were meant as rent payments.

District Attorney Katz said: “As alleged, this U.S. Postal Service clerk was supposed to safeguard customers’ mail but instead stole more than $20,000 in money orders and used that money to line her own pockets. One of the victims bought money orders to pay a deposit on a memorial plaque for her parents’ grave, while others sent money orders to pay their rent. Thank you to our partners at the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and USPS Office of Inspector General for their work on this case. If you believe your mail was stolen from the Whitestone Post Office, please contact our office at 718-286-6673.”

USPIS Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward of the New York Division said: “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, along with our partners at USPS-OIG, are committed in our mission of protecting the U.S. Mail and the customers we serve. USPIS thoroughly investigates mail theft incidents, and we will ensure all offenders are held accountable and brought to justice, especially those who abuse their position of trust within the United States Postal Service. If you believe your mail has been stolen, please report it to USPIS on our website at USPIS.gov.”

Matthew M. Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Area Field Office, USPS Office of Inspector General said: “We thank the Queens County District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their partnership in this investigation.”

Campbell, 44, of the Bronx, was arraigned Thursday on an 89-count indictment charging her with 15 counts of forgery in the first degree, two counts of scheme to defraud in the first degree, criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree, eight counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the first degree, 23 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, 15 counts of identity theft in the first degree, two counts of grand larceny in the third degree, 15 counts of identity theft in the second degree, five counts of petit larceny and three counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree.

Queens Supreme Court Justice Leigh Cheng ordered Campbell to return to court September 30. If convicted, she faces up to five to 15 years in prison.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the USPS Office of Inspector General began an investigation in December 2024 after receiving customer complaints about missing money orders. The DA’s office joined the investigation a month later.

District Attorney Katz said that, according to the charges and investigation, Campbell worked as a clerk at the Whitestone Post Office and entered the building’s distribution room where she opened envelopes that arrived at the facility. She allegedly rifled through the contents of the mail and pocketed money orders before tossing the envelopes. Campbell allegedly resealed some empty envelopes, which were sent to the recipients.

Campbell went to her window and cashed the money orders after forging the necessary signatures. She is alleged to have cashed $21,400 worth of money orders from 10 people from February 24, 2025, to May 12, 2026.

One victim allegedly purchased three money orders for $1,000 each at a Bronx post office and mailed them to her landlord’s postal box in Whitestone. The money orders were cashed but never delivered.

Another victim allegedly mailed $3,000 in money orders to Florida to pay homeowners association fees. The envelope arrived at its destination but without the money orders, which were allegedly cashed by Campbell.

One man allegedly purchased several money orders totaling $4,000 over a period of months, and the money orders were mailed to his landlord’s Whitestone postal box. In March 2026, he bought another $2,000 in money orders at the Fresh Meadows Post Office but mailed them from Campbell’s window at the Whitestone Post Office. His landlord never received the money orders, all of which were allegedly cashed by Campbell.

The investigation was conducted jointly by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Assistant District Attorney Jessica Coalter of the District Attorney’s Housing, Worker and Consumer Protection Bureau is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys William Jorgenson, Bureau Chief, and Christina Hanophy, Senior Deputy Bureau Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for the Investigations Division Joseph T. Conley III.