Former Carthage postal worker sentenced for gift card theft

A former worker at the United States Postal Service in Carthage was sentenced to two years of probation today during a hearing in U. S. District Court in Springfield after pleading guilty last year to stealing $300 worth of Walmart gift cards.

The thefts took place December 20, 2024.

The crime was described in the plea agreement filed in October.

On January 16, 2025, United States Postal Service (USPS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) received a mail theft allegation from customer H.C. H.C. advised that she had mailed two envelopes from the Carthage, Missouri, Post Office located at 226 W. 3rd Street, Carthage, Jasper County, Missouri, within the Western District of Missouri. 

H.C. advised that she mailed the two envelopes that contained three, $100 Walmart Gift Cards. H.C. told postal officials that the two envelopes never reached the intended destination. H.C. advised that she had mailed these envelopes on December 20,2024.

On January 29,2025, Special Agent (SA) Christopher Eby with the USPS-oIG requested and received grand jury subpoenas to Walmart to obtain records related to the three missing gift cards. The purpose of the subpoenas was to determine if the gift cards had been redeemed at a Walmart. 

On January 31,2025, SA Eby received receipt copies and still image video surveillance clips related to the location and the date in which the gift certificates were redeemed. SA Eby contacted the Postmaster for the Carthage Post Office and asked if she could identify the individual depicted in the pictures and videos. 

The Postmaster immediately identified that person depicted redeeming the stolen gift cards as the
defendant, Karla Ann Marie Griffin.

Investigators determined that the defendant was working at the Carthage, Missouri, Post Office on the day that H.C. had mailed the two envelopes with the three gift cards. Investigators determined that the defendant did have access to these gift cards and when combined with the document and video evidence provided by Walmart, the defendant had used her position of trust as an employee with USPS to steal the mail matter mailed by H.C. on December 20,2024.

Through the above facts and as a part of the defendant's plea to the sole count of the Information, the defendant further admits that, on or about December 20,2024, said date being approximate, the defendant, at that time an employee of the United States Postal Service, had, through her position with the Postal Service, possession of gift cards that were intended to be conveyed by mail, and she stole the money and gift cards with the intent to convert them to her own personal use. All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1709.

The defendant further admits that as a result of her criminal conduct, detailed above, she caused $300.00 of loss to a USPS customer. She agrees to pay restitution of no less than $300.00 as a part of her plea agreement.