(WNY News Now) – A former Randolph postal employee has pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing a gift card from mail entrusted to her while working for the U.S. Postal Service.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced that Melissa Olson, 47, of Randolph, New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to theft of mail by a postal employee.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright, Olson was hired by the United States Postal Service in 2023 as a rural carrier associate assigned to the Randolph Post Office.
Prosecutors said that between April and May 2023, Olson opened a stamped first-class envelope that had been entrusted to her for delivery and removed a Visa gift card contained inside.
Olson also admitted that on multiple occasions during 2023, she opened additional pieces of mail that had been entrusted to her for delivery and searched through their contents. Authorities said this conduct delayed the delivery of the mail.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Modafferi of the Northeast Field Office.
Olson is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9, 2026, before Judge Sinatra in U.S. District Court in Buffalo.
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