South Raleigh News

A Fayetteville man, Darrell Alan Thompson, 35, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and possession of a firearm by a felon. He has also been ordered to pay restitution to the affected financial institutions.

The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Raleigh Police Department (RPD) began investigating after numerous reports of mail theft and check fraud emerged in Wake County, North Carolina. The investigation revealed that a Postal Service "arrow key" was being used unlawfully to access mail from official collection boxes outside government post offices in the area. Checks stolen from these boxes were altered with new payee information, deposited into bank accounts, and the funds were withdrawn at local ATMs.

Thompson was identified through surveillance footage stealing from postal collection boxes between November 2022 and January 2023. He was arrested at the North Ridge Post Office parking lot in Raleigh. A search of his vehicle uncovered a 9mm pistol, multiple ammo magazines, about 180 stolen checks, and approximately 450 stolen AMEX gift cards. At that time, Thompson was already a convicted felon.

Michael F. Easley Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announced the sentencing following proceedings by Chief United States District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The USPIS and RPD conducted the investigation, while Assistant United States Attorney Adam F. Hulbig prosecuted the case.

Further details can be accessed via related court documents on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or through PACER using Case No. 5:24-CR-42-M-RN.