1792 – Death penalty for mail theft

1792

Death for Mail Theft

On Feb. 20, 1792, an act of Congress specified that anyone convicted of stealing mail "shall, on conviction thereof, suffer death." In 1872, the maximum penalty for mail theft was reduced to a lifetime of hard labor. Today, mail theft carries potential penalties of up to five years in prison and significant fines.

* | Tags: History USPS Fact #1358 | October 31, 2025