ST. LOUIS – A United States Postal Service employee from Florissant, Missouri, appeared in federal court Thursday and admitted her role in a conspiracy to steal checks from the mail.

Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said Cambria Hopkins, 30, worked as a mail carrier in Clayton.

Hopkins admitted accepting money from co-conspirator Malik A. Jones for her mail key, also known as a USPS “arrow key.” Prosecutors said Hopkins did this knowing that Jones was planning on using the key to steal mail in March 2022.

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

Hopkins was indicted in October 2024. She pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of conspiracy and one count of unlawful use of a mail key.

Meanwhile, Jones, now 28, pleaded guilty in October 2024 to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Jones is awaiting sentencing.

Hopkins will be sentenced on Dec. 1. She faces up to 10 years in federal prison on the mail key charge. The conspiracy charges carries a maximum five-year sentence and a $250,000 fine.