Buffalo man arrested, charged with stealing postal key

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Kaevon Raymere Leonard, 33, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with unauthorized possession of U.S. postal service key, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint, in July 2024, a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier was robbed of their arrow key at gunpoint while working their delivery route in Buffalo. The arrow key is used to access several hundred USPS blue collection boxes located within Buffalo and surrounding towns and cities. Soon after the robbery, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, financial institutions, and local law enforcement started receiving numerous complaints from individuals and businesses, claiming they mailed envelopes containing checks from Buffalo metro-area blue collection boxes, which were stolen, altered and cashed, rather than delivered to their intended recipients.

In addition, law enforcement also identified individuals, including Leonard, posting pictures of USPS arrow keys on social media. In July 2024, a picture was posted to a Facebook account showing Leonard holding an arrow key attached to a USPS issued chain, which letter carriers use to secure the arrow key to their belt loops. A caption below the picture states, "Willing to die behind this metal it's a trophy takes alot to understand me if you know me #vizagangceo." On August 22, 2025, another image of Leonard was posted to his Facebook account showing an arrow key attached to his belt loop with a carabiner. On September 23, 2025, a search warrant was executed at Leonard's North Park Avenue residence. During a search of Leonard's person, investigators recovered a USPS arrow key, which was attached to his belt loop with a carabiner. The arrow key included the same serial number of the arrow key stolen from the letter carrier in July 2024. Investigators also recovered additional evidence of Leonard recruiting check cashers, also known as "mules," on social media, and possessing stolen mail and checks.

Leonard made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and released on home detention.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Acting Inspector-in-Charge Justin Page, Boston Division.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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