ST. LOUIS - A St. Louis-area mail carrier is accused of stealing checks from mail and selling a Postal Service-issued key to access mail collection boxes.

Cambria Hopkins, 29, of Florissant, Missouri, was arrested on Thursday. She was indicted on October 30 for one count of conspiracy, one count of bribery, and one count of unlawful use of a mail key.

Hopkins pleaded not guilty to the charges following her arrest, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

An indictment accuses Hopkins of accepting money from co-conspirator Malik A. Jones for her mail key, also known as a U.S. Postal Service "arrow key." The indictment alleges Hopkins did this knowing that Jones was planning on using the key to steal mail in March 2022, during when she was a postal carrier based in Clayton, Missouri.

According to the indictment, Hopkins also stole mail that came into her possession as a postal carrier, removed checks from that mail and provided those checks to Jones. Investigators say that Jones paid Hopkins in cash, electronically via CashApp and by buying her groceries.

“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is the federal law enforcement branch of the U.S. Postal Service charged with protecting the nation’s mail system from illegal use. With the collaborative investigative efforts of our law enforcement partners, the Postal Inspection Service investigates and pursues those responsible for committing financial fraud stemming from the theft of mail.” said Inspector in Charge Ruth Mendonça who leads the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which includes the St. Louis Field Office.

If convicted, Hopkins could face up to 30 years in federal prison and $250,000 in fines.

Jones. meanwhile, pleaded guilty October 25 to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 30, 2025.