A former U.S. Postal Service employee has admitted to stealing over $100,000 worth of trading cards and other sports memorabilia as part of a guilty plea.

Shelby Dozier, 34, pleaded guilty to an information charge of theft of mail as a post office worker in lieu of a jury trial. As part of his agreement, Dozier will pay $108,692.49 in restitution for the stolen memorabilia

After he was hired as a sorting clerk at the main post office in Clifton, New Jersey, in August 2022, packages being sent to a consignment auction house in the town started to go missing, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey said in a news release Tuesday.

The attorney’s office didn’t specify which auction house was involved, but noted it specializes in sports memorabilia brought in from around the world.

Between September and December 2022, Dozier stole at least 10 packages meant for the auction house. He then took the contents and sold them to individuals and sports collectible stores. His illegal activity lasted through January 2023, according to a court document.

Among the items stolen were more than two dozen Michael Jordan trading cards each worth thousands of dollars, Pokemon cards and a signed photo of tennis player Rafael Nadal, reported to The New York Times.

In addition to his restitution payment, Dozier will be sentenced on April 22. He faces up to five years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice his gross earnings from his illegal activity, whichever sum is higher.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.