AUSTIN, Texas — Jonathan Casarez-Perez, a 35-year-old fugitive, was sentenced to 54 months in prison after pleading guilty to firearm possession and identity theft charges, according to the Austin Police Department. Casarez-Perez was apprehended following a detailed investigation involving local law enforcement and the U.S. Postal Inspector’s Office.
On December 3, 2024, members of the Austin Police North Austin Metro Tactical Unit received information on Casarez-Perez’s whereabouts. He was wanted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, related to an Austin Police Department case. Officers located his vehicle at a local hotel and observed him stealing mail from a residential mailbox, with assistance from APD Air Support.
Upon arrest, officers found a loaded handgun, a counterfeit Arrow Key, several dozen USPS parcel keys, and hundreds of stolen mail items in his vehicle. Fraudulent identification documents and unlawfully possessed personal identifying information were also seized. The United States Postal Service Postal Inspectors Office was contacted to coordinate the investigation.
Casarez-Perez entered a guilty plea in the United States District Court Western District of Texas, Austin Division, on January 1, 2026, for possession of a firearm by a felon and aggravated identity theft. He is required to pay restitution as part of his sentence.
“This sentence sends a clear message that mail theft will not be tolerated, and the individuals responsible will be held accountable,” said Houston Division U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Shameka Jackson. The Austin Police Department emphasized the rise in mail theft crimes and urged the public to monitor their mail and report suspicious activities.
The investigation highlights the collaboration between law enforcement and the U.S. Postal Service to combat mail theft and related financial crimes.