* **Probation, Not Prison:** Ashley Straub, 25, was sentenced to one year of probation and a $500 fine for stealing from the mail. * **$350 in Cash + Gift Cards:** Investigators found Straub had taken cash and several gift cards from mail she was assigned to deliver. * **Federal Crime:** Mail theft by a postal employee is a federal offense that can carry up to five years in prison. * **Trust Eroded:** The judge emphasized that such actions damage public confidence in the Postal Service. LA CROSSE, Wis. — A former letter carrier at the La Crosse Post Office has been sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay a $500 fine after admitting to stealing cash and gift cards from mail she was supposed to deliver. Ashley Straub, 25, of Onalaska, Wisconsin, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Anita M. Boor for sentencing. In addition to probation and the fine, Straub was ordered to pay restitution to her victims. ## "A Personal Shopping Trip" Federal prosecutors did not mince words in describing Straub's conduct. According to court documents, the former carrier treated her mail route like a "personal shopping trip," systematically tampering with numerous pieces of mail during her time at the La Crosse facility. The investigation revealed that Straub had stolen approximately $350 in cash along with several gift cards from letters and packages entrusted to her care. The thefts occurred during her employment as a carrier, beginning in February 2025. For carriers who take pride in their craft, cases like this are a gut punch. Every piece of mail represents someone's trust — a birthday card from a grandparent, a gift card for a graduation, a check to cover rent. When that trust is violated from inside, it stains everyone who wears the uniform. ## The Investigation The case was a joint effort between the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the La Crosse Police Department. Investigators were able to trace the missing items back to Straub's route and build a case that led to federal charges. Mail theft by a postal employee is prosecuted under [18 U.S.C. § 1709](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1709), which carries a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. Straub's clean criminal record was cited as a factor in the judge's decision to impose probation rather than incarceration. ## A Warning From the Bench During sentencing, Judge Boor made clear that the consequences extended beyond one carrier's actions. She emphasized that mail theft by postal employees erodes public trust in the entire United States Postal Service — a system that millions of Americans depend on daily. "The Postal Service operates on trust," the judge noted, underscoring that even relatively small thefts carry outsized consequences for the institution. ## Why It Matters to Carriers For the [hundreds of thousands of letter carriers](/blog/nalc-contract-update) who deliver the mail with integrity every day, stories like this are a reminder that individual actions reflect on the entire craft. Management already watches carriers closely — incidents of internal theft only give them more ammunition. It also reinforces why the Postal Inspection Service and OIG take these cases seriously, regardless of the dollar amount. The $350 Straub stole may seem small, but the federal response sends a clear message: the mail is sacred, and those who violate it will be held accountable. ## What Happens Next Straub has been terminated from the Postal Service. She must complete her year of probation and pay full restitution to affected customers. Any violation of her probation terms could result in additional penalties, including imprisonment. If you suspect mail theft on your route or at your facility, report it to the [Postal Inspection Service](https://www.uspis.gov/report) at 1-877-876-2455 or online at uspis.gov.