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Investigative Press Release
Jan
26
2022

Former U.S. Postal Service Employee Admits Stealing Gift Cards from Mail

MISSOULA — A Missoula man today admitted to a charge accusing him of stealing and cashing gift cards from a birthday card while he worked for the U.S. Postal Service, U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.

Lassana Diaby, 40, pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with theft of mail by officer or employee. Diaby faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

In court documents, the government alleged that on March 26, 2021, a U.S. Postal Service customer reported items were stolen from a birthday card that was sent to his locking mailbox in Missoula. An investigation determined that Diaby presented his Costco membership card and the gift card to complete a purchase at the Costco in Missoula and presented his receipt to a Costco employee at the exit. At the time, Diaby worked for the U.S. Postal Service as a mail processing clerk.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Karla E. Painter is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General.