$18,000 worth of I-Phones were stolen right from packages, 2 mail employees are charged
DeSean Hardiman, 31, and Elijah Jefferies, 20, work for USPS, they were arrested on November 20, 2025 in Gastonia, NC accused of stealing $18,000 worth of I-Phones.
A six month joint operation between the Gastonia Police Department and United States Postal Service and special agents from the Office of Inspector General, has uncovered a phone theft scheme at the USPS warehouse located at 524 Scaleybark Road.
Two USPS employees identified as DeSean and Elijah were identifying packages containing mobile phones, allegedly opening them during the delivery process, and removing the phones.
The stolen phones were then sold for cash through EcoATM kiosks across Gastonia. During the operation, investigators recovered more than 20 stolen I-Phones, with estimated losses exceeding $18,000. There may be additional stolen devices that will determine the full scope of the operation.
After the investigation, the suspects were arrested at work in uniform. They were charged with felonies including obtaining property by false pretenses, larceny by an employee, and conspiracy.
