Postal carrier sentenced for stealing gift cards

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Matthew Hurlburt, 25, of Pavilion, NY, who was convicted of theft of mail by an officer or employee of the United States Postal Service, was sentenced to serve six months' probation by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.

Hurlburt was employed by the United States Postal Service as a city carrier assigned to the Perry Post Office, in Perry, NY. In July 2025, an individual mailed a birthday card that included a $100 Visa gift card to a relative in Perry, but it never arrived. Subsequent investigation by Special Agents of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service determined that the gift card was utilized multiple times at a gas station and bar by Hurlburt. In August 2025, investigators placed an integrity test envelope containing a $25 Visa gift card in Hurlburt's assigned mail delivery tray. The envelope was labeled in such a way that it should be returned to the Post Office by Hurlburt at the end of his shift. However, Hurlburt did not return the envelope, instead he stole the envelope from the mail, opened the birthday card inside, and utilized the gift card to buy snacks, alcohol, and gas.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Gestring. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent-in-Charge Northeast Field Office.

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