Austin Fugitive Sentenced to Federal Prison in Mail Theft and Firearms Case

AUSTIN, TX – A year-long investigation involving Austin police and federal partners has resulted in a prison sentence for a fugitive tied to mail theft, identity fraud, and illegal firearm possession.

On Tuesday, December 3, 2024, members of the Austin Police Department North Austin Metro Tactical Unit received information about the whereabouts of Jonathan Casarez-Perez, who was wanted on an outstanding charge of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon in connection with an APD case.

Officers located Casarez-Perez’s vehicle at a north Austin hotel and observed him leave the property and drive away. With assistance from APD Air Support, officers conducted surveillance as the vehicle traveled through north Austin. During that surveillance, Air Support captured video of Casarez-Perez stealing mail from a residential mailbox.

Casarez-Perez eventually parked, and officers safely took him into custody. A search of his vehicle uncovered a significant cache of illegal and stolen items, including a loaded handgun, a counterfeit Arrow Key commonly used to access community mailboxes, several dozen USPS parcel keys, hundreds of pieces of stolen mail, fraudulent and stolen identification documents such as bank cards, IDs, and passports, and hundreds of unlawfully possessed items containing personal identifying information.

Given the scope of the mail theft, officers immediately contacted the United States Postal Inspection Service, and a USPS Postal Inspector responded to the scene to begin a coordinated investigation.

Casarez-Perez was arrested on the original warrant and additional charges, including Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. The case continued as a joint investigation between Austin police and the Postal Inspection Service.

That investigation culminated on January 1, 2026, when Casarez-Perez entered a guilty plea in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division. He pleaded guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Felon and Aggravated Identity Theft. He was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution.

“This sentence sends a clear message that mail theft will not be tolerated, and the individuals responsible will be held accountable,” said Shameka Jackson, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge for the Houston Division. “The Postal Inspection Service remains committed to working alongside law enforcement partners to pursue and prosecute individuals who target postal customers.”

Austin police are also using the case to warn the public about the rise in large-scale mail theft from community mailboxes and the financial crimes that often follow. Stolen personal identifying information is frequently used to open fraudulent credit accounts, create fake IDs, cash stolen checks, and misuse bank cards.

Residents are encouraged to ensure community mail areas are monitored by cameras, report suspicious activity, closely track incoming mail, and regularly review credit reports to spot fraud as early as possible. Austin police say they will continue working with federal partners to disrupt and prosecute these crimes.