Florida man faces up to five years for stealing mail from mailboxes

FLORIDA – A Florida man has pleaded guilty to stealing mail from mailboxes in Baker, Bradford, Clay, Duval, and Putnam counties.

United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that Connor Lee Austin, 28, of Starke, pleaded guilty last week to theft of mail. Austin faces up to five years in federal prison and payment of restitution to the victims in the case. No sentencing date has been set.

According to court documents and public records, in late April 2022, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) received multiple reports of mail being stolen from mailboxes in the Keystone Heights area. Surveillance footage from homes in that area captured a truck driving down roads with the passenger, later identified as Austin, and his co-defendant, Maranda Ann Stewart, 26, of Starke, stealing mail from mailboxes.

On May 6, 2022, the Baker County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) arrested Austin and Stewart for their involvement with a fraudulent check. During the arrest, the BCSO conducted an inventory search of the truck they used and reportedly located over 100 pieces of mail that had been stolen from various addresses in Clay County.

According to court documents and public records, further investigation determined that after stealing mail, Austin and Stewart used Austin’s phone in an effort to deposit stolen checks into their bank accounts through mobile deposit.

Law enforcement recovered mail allegedly stolen by Austin and Stewart from Baker, Bradford, Clay, Duval, and Putnam counties.

Austin appeared in federal court on April 19, 2023, pursuant to a writ bringing him to Jacksonville from Florida State Prison, where he is serving a prison sentence of 36 months for grand theft, grand theft from a dwelling, and burglary. He was ordered detained.

On June 27, 2023, Stewart pled guilty to one count of theft of mail. She faces up to five years imprisonment and restitution payment to the case’s victims. No sentencing date has been set.

This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Postal Inspection Service, with valuable assistance from the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein is prosecuting it.