A former United States Postal Service employee has pleaded guilty to stealing packages that included high-value Pokémon trading cards and sports memorabilia, according to court records and reporting by USA Today.
The defendant, 34-year-old Shelby Dozier, worked at a New Jersey post office from August 2022 through December 2022.
Investigators say packages bound for a Clifton auction house went missing during that period.
Case details and timeline
Court filings indicate that between September and December 2022, Dozier diverted at least ten packages addressed to the Clifton auction house.
The seized evidence and sales records showed the packages contained graded sports cards, autographed memorabilia and Pokémon trading cards that were later resold.
Prosecutors say Dozier stopped reporting to work in December 2022, which heightened suspicion and prompted further investigation.
Investigators used phone records and sales data to link Dozier to the sales.
The defendant has agreed to pay $108,692.49 in restitution.
Under federal law, the charge of theft of mail by a postal employee carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain from the offense, whichever is greater.
Items reported stolen
USA Today provided an itemized list of many of the missing goods.
Among the reported losses were:
- Multiple Michael Jordan cards and other graded sports cards (various dates in October–November 2022; some individual card values ranged from $1,725 to $8,000)
- Two Michael Jordan cards and a Mickey Mantle card together valued at about $4,500
- Graded sports cards including Shaquille O’Neal and current NBA players, plus several Pokémon cards with estimated values listed between $3,000 and $5,000 for specific groupings
- Authenticated autographed photos (Rafael Nadal, Hank Greenberg) and autographed baseball cards (Willie Mays)
- Signed jerseys and multiple Connor McDavid and other NHL cards
Industry context and collector guidance
Postal thefts targeting collectibles have drawn increased attention from hobbyists and auction houses.
Collectors who follow franchises such as Pokémon — which also has a broad audience across physical TCG collectors and digital fans on platforms like Nintendo Switch and storefronts such as the eShop — frequently rely on third-party shipping and auction services.
Experts and industry sources recommend tracking, insured shipping, signature-required delivery and prompt communication with auction houses to mitigate loss.
This case underscores the financial scale of collectibles markets and the vulnerabilities in parcel handling.
The prosecution and restitution ordered follow standard federal procedures for theft by postal employees, and the matter was covered in detail by USA Today.
The defendant, 34-year-old Shelby Dozier, worked at a New Jersey post office from August 2022 through December 2022.
Investigators say packages bound for a Clifton auction house went missing during that period.
Case details and timeline
Court filings indicate that between September and December 2022, Dozier diverted at least ten packages addressed to the Clifton auction house.
The seized evidence and sales records showed the packages contained graded sports cards, autographed memorabilia and Pokémon trading cards that were later resold.
Prosecutors say Dozier stopped reporting to work in December 2022, which heightened suspicion and prompted further investigation.
Investigators used phone records and sales data to link Dozier to the sales.
The defendant has agreed to pay $108,692.49 in restitution.
Under federal law, the charge of theft of mail by a postal employee carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain from the offense, whichever is greater.
Items reported stolen
USA Today provided an itemized list of many of the missing goods.
Among the reported losses were:
- Multiple Michael Jordan cards and other graded sports cards (various dates in October–November 2022; some individual card values ranged from $1,725 to $8,000)
- Two Michael Jordan cards and a Mickey Mantle card together valued at about $4,500
- Graded sports cards including Shaquille O’Neal and current NBA players, plus several Pokémon cards with estimated values listed between $3,000 and $5,000 for specific groupings
- Authenticated autographed photos (Rafael Nadal, Hank Greenberg) and autographed baseball cards (Willie Mays)
- Signed jerseys and multiple Connor McDavid and other NHL cards
Industry context and collector guidance
Postal thefts targeting collectibles have drawn increased attention from hobbyists and auction houses.
Collectors who follow franchises such as Pokémon — which also has a broad audience across physical TCG collectors and digital fans on platforms like Nintendo Switch and storefronts such as the eShop — frequently rely on third-party shipping and auction services.
Experts and industry sources recommend tracking, insured shipping, signature-required delivery and prompt communication with auction houses to mitigate loss.
This case underscores the financial scale of collectibles markets and the vulnerabilities in parcel handling.
The prosecution and restitution ordered follow standard federal procedures for theft by postal employees, and the matter was covered in detail by USA Today.
