Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Mail Theft and Postal Key Crime Prevention Act of 2026”.
Mail Theft and Postal Key Crime Prevention Act of 2026
A BILL
To improve coordination and prosecution of organized mail theft and related fraud offenses, to direct the United States Sentencing Commission to review and amend sentencing guidelines applicable to such offenses, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Findings; sense of congress
Findings— Congress finds the following:
Mail theft, including theft involving collection boxes and cluster mailbox units, has increased in communities across the United States.
Organized criminal groups increasingly engage in schemes involving stolen mail, postal keys, counterfeit postal access devices, identity theft, check fraud, bank fraud, and related financial crimes.
Theft, robbery, duplication, and unlawful possession of postal keys and arrow keys pose significant risks to the security and integrity of the United States mail system.
Mail theft and related fraud offenses impose substantial financial and emotional harm on consumers, small businesses, financial institutions, and postal employees.
Effective investigation and prosecution of organized mail theft schemes requires coordinated efforts among Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies.
Enhanced coordination among prosecutors and law enforcement agencies will improve the ability of the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute organized mail theft and related fraud offenses.
Sense of congress— It is the sense of Congress that—
organized mail theft and related financial crimes are serious Federal offenses that threaten public confidence in the United States mail system;
the Department of Justice should prioritize investigation and prosecution of organized mail theft schemes, including offenses involving postal keys, arrow keys, identity theft, check fraud, and bank fraud;
coordination among United States Attorneys’ Offices, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and other Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies is essential to combating organized mail theft; and
Federal sentencing policy should appropriately reflect the seriousness of offenses involving stolen or counterfeit postal access devices and organized mail theft schemes.
Sec. 3 Coordination of prosecution of mail theft offenses
In general— Chapter 35 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
“551. Mail theft coordinator
“(a) Designation—The Attorney General shall, in consultation with the United States attorney for the district, designate in each judicial district an assistant United States attorney to serve as the Mail Theft Coordinator for the district.
“(b) Primary responsibilities—A mail theft coordinator shall have the primary responsibility for coordinating and supervising the investigation and prosecution of offenses involving—
“(1) theft or unlawful possession of postal keys or locks under section 1704 of title 18;
“(2) theft or receipt of stolen mail matter under section 1708 of title 18;
“(3) organized schemes involving mail theft, identity theft, check fraud, bank fraud, or access device fraud facilitated through stolen mail; and
“(4) related conspiracy or fraud offense arising from conduct described in paragraphs (1) through (3).
“(c) Coordination—In carrying out the responsibilities described in subsection (b), each mail theft coordinator shall coordinate, as appropriate, with—
“(1) the United States Postal Inspection Service;
“(2) the Federal Bureau of Investigation;
“(3) the Department of Homeland Security;
“(4) the Department of the Treasury;
“(5) State and local law enforcement agencies; and
“(6) other relevant Federal agencies.”
Clerical amendment— The table of contents for chapter 35 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
Sec. 4 Report on organized mail theft
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 5 years, the Attorney General shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate a report regarding organized mail theft and related fraud offenses, including—
trends in mail theft offenses;
the number and type of prosecutions brought under sections 1704 and 1708 of title 18, United States Code, and related fraud statutes;
coordination efforts among Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies;
trends involving theft, robbery, manufacture, duplication, or trafficking of postal keys, arrow keys, or counterfeit postal access devices; and
recommendations for improving prevention, investigation, and prosecution of organized mail theft offenses.
Sec. 5 Sentencing guidelines with respect to mail theft offenses
Not later than May 1 of the first calendar year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act, the United States Sentencing Commission shall review and amend the Federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements promulgated pursuant to section 994 of title 28, United States Code, to ensure that the guidelines provide appropriate sentencing enhancements for offenses involving—
the theft, robbery, possession, duplication, manufacture, or trafficking of postal keys, arrow keys, or counterfeit postal access devices;
organized or large-scale mail theft schemes;
offenses involving identity theft, check fraud, bank fraud, or access device fraud facilitated through stolen mail;
offenses involving violence, threats, or robbery targeting employees or contractors of the United States Postal Service; and
offenses involving theft of mail affecting multiple victims or substantial financial loss.
Sec. 6 Rule of construction
Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act shall be construed to limit any authority otherwise available to the Department of Justice, the United States Postal Inspection Service, or any other Federal law enforcement agency.