Columbia, SC, Man Sentenced for Fraud Stemming from Mail The...

Greenville, SC - A five-month investigation led to the arrest and guilty plea of former U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employee Troy McDougle, Jr., 31, of Columbia, SC, for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud. The joint investigation was carried out by the U.S. postal inspectors, and USPS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) special agents.

McDougle stole $1.6 million in business and personal checks from the USPS Processing and Distribution Center in Columbia, SC. McDougle was sentenced on November 4, 2025, to 4 ½ years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. McDougle was ordered to pay $204,149.43 in restitution.

While employed as a mail handler at the Columbia center, McDougle stole U.S. Mail containing checks between August 2022 and June 2024. McDougle took pictures of the checks with his personal cell phone and then sold the checks on various applications to individuals who would then use the stolen checks as templates to create new, counterfeit checks. These checks would then be made out to co-conspirators across the country to cash and deposit into bank accounts. McDougle also sold checks to individuals on the street. McDougle's actions resulted in $204,000 in actual financial losses to banks and businesses and potential losses of up to $1.6 million. Approximately 250 victims were identified in the investigation.

"An important part of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service mission is to ensure public trust in the mail and defend the nation's mail system," said Rodney M. Hopkins, inspector in charge of the Atlanta Division. "The sentence handed down in this case will send a clear message to mail thieves that you will be vigorously pursued and brought to justice."

"The vast majority of Postal Service employees are honest, hardworking individuals who would not violate the public's trust in this manner. An employee who decides otherwise will be aggressively investigated by OIG special agents. These cases serve as an excellent example of the successful collaboration among the USPS-OIG, our enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney's Office to pursue and prosecute Postal Service employees involved in criminal activity," said Kathleen Woodson, executive special agent in charge, USPS OIG.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Potterfield of the District of South Carolina.