Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Maisha K. Daniels (46, Jacksonville) today pleaded guilty to selling a stolen firearm. Daniels faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
According to the plea agreement, Daniels worked for the U.S. Postal Service at various times, beginning in 1998. In April 2022, she was assigned to a distribution center in Jacksonville. While it was passing through that particular facility, a Sig Sauer semi-automatic pistol was stolen from a parcel that a licensed firearms dealer had shipped from Nevada to Florida. Daniels worked on the day that the pistol went missing. The Nevada firearms dealer reported the pistol stolen, and one week later, Daniels sold it to a firearms dealer in Jacksonville for $250. While conducting the transaction, Daniels provided her name, address, and cellphone number. A security camera captured an image of her during the sale.
Daniels later agreed to be interviewed by special agents from the U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. She initially denied any knowledge about particular items being stolen from the postal distribution center and ever owning a firearm. When shown a picture of her at the Jacksonville gun dealer, Daniels eventually admitted that she had stolen a pistol at work. She also admitted stealing three Coach brand clutch purses.
When the agents searched Daniels’s belongings at work, they found four bags of THC edibles; a sealed letter bearing postal stamps that was addressed neither to nor from Daniels; a gift box and card, which was also not addressed to her, but instead to a third party; a Coach hat in its packaging; four gift cards; a Coach watch with its original box, and a Coach scarf and its packaging. Daniels denied stealing the Coach items and claimed that they were gifts from other postal employees.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.