A former postal employee from the Springfield, Missouri area has been sentenced for burglarizing a local post office and stealing mail. Zachary M. Walker, 39, received a sentence of 12 months and one day in prison from U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips.
According to court documents, on July 24, 2024, inspectors with the United States Postal Inspection Service conducted an undercover operation that involved placing a hidden camera inside a local post office. Law enforcement had discovered that Walker, who previously worked for the U.S. Postal Service, was entering the building after hours using his knowledge of postal procedures and an exterior passcode lock code. He targeted specific storage bins within the post office to steal valuable items being shipped through the service.
Walker stole property valued at $2,100 from various mail bins. In addition to his prison sentence, he was ordered to pay $2,100 in restitution and is subject to a final order of forfeiture for the same amount. Upon release from prison, Walker will serve three years of supervised release.
“This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Springfield, Missouri, Police Department.”
The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri handles federal prosecutions and civil litigation across 66 counties in western Missouri and collaborates with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners throughout its jurisdiction. The office has locations in Kansas City, Jefferson City and Springfield and is affiliated with the U.S. Department of Justice.
The office also supports community outreach programs focused on issues such as violent crime and drug trafficking within its region extending from Iowa to Arkansas borders.
