A former postal worker is facing up to five years in prison after authorities say he stole more than $171,000 in cash sent through the mail by retailers at the Gloucester Premium Outlets.

Joseph Fenuto, 51, of Blackwood, entered a guilty plea Dec. 1 before U.S. District Court Judge Christine O’Hearn in Camden federal court on one count of mail theft, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release.

While working as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service between November 2021 through August 2022, Fenuto’s route included the Gloucester Premium Outlets, where retailers would mail cash from sales to a bank in Cincinnati, Ohio, authorities said.

After Fenuto scanned the items into his possession, he never placed them into the mail stream but instead pocketed the money and deposited into a bank account, authorities said.

Following an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and USPS, Fenuto admitted to having swiped 58 parcels containing $171,109.55 cash from those retailers, according to authorities.

Authorities did not provide any further details about the case, including which stores Fenuto stole from.

When Fenuto returns to court for sentencing on April 2, 2024, he faces a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, authorities said.

A media representative for Gloucester Premium Outlets did not respond to a request for comment, and Fenuto could not immediately be reached.

One of South Jersey’s busiest shopping destinations, the Simon Property-owned center is home to more than 80 retailers, including Polo Ralph Lauren, Vera Bradley, Under Armour, Michael Kors Outlet, Kade Spade New York Outlet, Kays Jewelers Outlet, Levi’s Outlet Store, The Children’s Place, Skechers, OskKosh B’Gosh, Nike Unite, Lucky Brand Jeans, Loft Outlet, J.Crew Factory, Converse, Famous Footwear Outlet, Gap Factory, Crocs, Brooks Brothers Factory Store, Banana Republic Factory Store, Calvin Klein, Hilfiger and adidas Outlet Store.