Tallahassee, Florida –9/28/26 – Taija Avion Smith, 25, and Jaheed Anthony Williams, 24, both of Tallahassee, Florida, have been sentenced in federal court after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit mail theft, theft of a mail key, bank fraud conspiracy, and multiple counts of aggravated identity theft. Williams, who also previously pleaded guilty to 14 counts of bank fraud, was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment. Smith was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment. The sentences were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Our citizens deserve to be able to rely upon the U.S. Postal Service to quickly, efficiently, and securely deliver the mail, but this former postal employee violated the position of trust she occupied to enrich herself and her accomplish. Thanks to the excellent investigative work by the USPIS and Postal Inspector General, with support from our local law enforcement partners, these criminals are being sent to federal prison.”
Court documents reflect that between March 11, 2021, and May 21, 2024, Smith was employed by the United States Postal Service, in Tallahassee, Florida. Due to her employment, Smith had access to a postal key, which she stole and gave to her co-defendant, Williams. Together, Smith and Williams conspired to steal U.S. Mail, which included stealing mailed checks that they fraudulently deposited in financial institutions and thereafter split the proceeds of their scheme. Court records also show that Smith fraudulently received and used online bank login credentials of other individuals as part of the conspiracy.
“Individuals who engage in crimes that violate the laws protecting the United States mail, whether employees or non-employees, will be pursued by the Postal Inspection Service alongside our state, local and federal partners,” said Bladismir Rojo, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Miami Division. “These federal prison sentences should serve as a warning to criminals who consider mail theft and check fraud a lucrative endeavor.”
This case was jointly investigated by the Tallahassee Police Department, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin.
