A former California postal worker has admitted to stealing checks, credit cards, and debit cards from the mail over the course of at least three years, pleading guilty Monday to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, this all started in 2022 when 31-year-old Mary Ann Magdamit started ripping off mail that was clearly marked with personal information and financial information while working as a letter carrier at the Torrance Main Post Office. Federal authorities have stated that Magdamit activated stolen cards and sold other cards to co-conspirators.

Court records show the scheme relied on accomplices who would cash stolen checks using fake identification documents. “Federally insured banks and credit unions were victimized in this scheme,” the Justice Department said in a statement.

Magdamit’s thefts came to light as investigators connected her to lavish spending that far outpaced her postal service salary. Prosecutors said she flaunted her gains on social media, posting a photo of herself holding a thick stack of cash, and used the proceeds to buy luxury goods, including a Rolex watch, and to pay for trips to destinations such as Turks and Caicos and Aruba.

A December 2024 search of her home turned up 133 stolen credit and debit cards, 16 U.S. Department of Treasury checks, and a loaded “ghost gun” — a firearm without a serial number that is often assembled from purchased or homemade parts. Despite the discovery, prosecutors said, Magdamit continued using stolen credit cards. She was arrested on July 1 after federal agents determined she was still engaged in the scheme. That same day, agents searched her apartment again and found additional stolen cards.

Magdamit has been in federal custody since her arrest. For her plea agreement, she admitted to being a part of a major conspiracy that went after individuals as well as financial institutions who make transactions.

Sentencing is scheduled for October 27, and Magdamit is looking at a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison. For prosecutors, the conviction is an an opportunity to send the message that the misuse of a federal position for personal enrichment will be met with serious consequences.