The Southern District of New York Federal Prosecutor’s Office and the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG) announced on the 25th that two former United States Postal Service (USPS) employees have been charged with allegedly using their positions to steal gift cards and other items from the mail for personal gain.
The defendants include 59-year-old New York resident Pian Pian Wong-Tam and 57-year-old William Wong. Wong-Tam previously worked as a mail handler at the USPS Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC) in White Plains, while Wong worked as a postal clerk at the Millwood post office.
According to federal criminal complaints, USPS-OIG launched an investigation after receiving multiple customer complaints. The complaints alleged damages and missing gift cards from mail processed at the White Plains P&DC. The investigation found that from April 2025 to July 24, 2026, Wong-Tam allegedly used her position to steal gift cards from the mail she was responsible for handling, which she then shared with Wong. The pair reportedly used these gift cards at various retailers in multiple states.
The prosecution alleges that their scheme involved at least 200 gift cards, each valued between $25 and $500. Wong-Tam left her USPS position on July 24, 2026.
Both defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit theft and possession of stolen mail, possession of stolen mail, conspiracy to commit access device fraud, and two counts of access device fraud; Wong-Tam is also charged with theft of mail by a postal official or employee. The maximum sentences for these charges range from 5 to 10 years, and specific penalties will be determined by the court in accordance with the law.
Federal Prosecutor Jamie McDonald of the Southern District of New York stated that postal employees allegedly stole over 200 gift cards from the mail they were entrusted to handle, and used them with others, reflecting an abuse of trust in the postal system. Special Agent Matthew M. Modafferi of the USPS-OIG’s Northeast Regional Field Office stated that the improper actions of postal workers undermine public trust in postal services, and the Inspector General’s Office will continue to hold those responsible accountable.