Former Waltham mail carrier sentenced for stealing prescription drugs

A former Waltham mail carrier who admitted to stealing prescription drugs and other items from customers along his route received his sentence last Friday in Boston federal court. Michael Vernon, 52, pleaded guilty to theft of mail by a postal employee in Dec. 2025.

Vernon was sentenced on May 30 to time served, amounting to one day in prison, and one year of supervised release. Vernon also has to pay a $1,000 fine. The maximum sentence for theft of mail by a postal employee is up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

More than 1,000 pieces of undelivered mail and 17 prescription medication bottles were found in Vernon’s personal vehicle in January 2024. Many of the medications were for elderly customers and were for conditions including high blood pressure, mental health conditions, nerve pain and diabetes. Vernon stole mail from around June 2022 through January 2024 when he was caught.

Additional court activity

The following activity took place at Waltham District Court:

Antonio L. Osman Jr., 30, of Waltham, was arraigned by Judge Ellen M. Caulo on May 26 on a charge of assault and battery on a family or household member. The charge is in relation to an incident that took place outside of Osman’s Waltham residence. It is unclear from MassCourts how Osman Jr. pleaded. He is being held at Middlesex Jail. A pretrial hearing for his case is set for Monday, June 15, and will take place over Zoom.

Shazia Qureshi, 39, of Waltham, pleaded not guilty on May 26 to a charge of assault and battery on a family or household member and a charge of assault on a family or household member. The charges are in connection to an incident that took place inside her residence in Waltham. Qureshi was released on personal recognizance by Caulo and has a pretrial hearing for her case set for Monday, June 22.

Maria Kirsanova, 39, homeless, of Waltham, pleaded not guilty on June 1 to a charge of assault and battery on a family or household member. The charge is in relation to an event that took place at picnic benches outside Waltham Public Library. Caulo released Kirsanova on personal recognizance. A pretrial hearing for Kirsanova’s case will be held Wednesday, July 8.