Press Release  United States Department of Justice

Acting United States Attorney Julia C. Dudley announced today that Samuel Davis Kemp, age 59, of Roanoke, pled guilty Thursday in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Roanoke to charges that he threatened and interfered with a United States Postal Supervisor while he was engaged in his official duties.

At the time of the incident, Kemp was employed as a mail handler at the United States Postal Service Processing and Distribution Center on Rutherford Avenue in Roanoke.

“All Americans must feel secure and free from intimidation at their place of business,” Acting United States Attorney Julia C. Dudley said today. “Employees of the federal government must be held to the highest possible standard and must be held accountable for their actions.”

Kemp pled guilty today to one count of threatening and interfering with a United States Postal Supervisor while he was engaged in his official duties. He was charged in August in a one-count indictment.

According to a statement of facts submitted to the Court by Assistant United States Attorney Charlene R. Day and agreed to by Kemp, on the evening on July 26, 2008 he was called into work by a postal supervisor. At approximately 9:30 p.m., Kemp told his supervisor he needed to go home to retrieve his diabatic medication. At that time, the defendant was advised to “clock off” on lunch and return as soon as possible.

Kemp then left the facility. He returned at approximately 11:05 p.m. At that time, another postal employee smelled an odor of alcohol on the defendant. As a result, Kemp was called into the office of the postal supervisor.

The postal supervisor asked Kemp if he had been drinking, to which the defendant answered, “Hell no.” As per United States Postal Service Policy, 911 was called in order to escort the defendant out of the facility.

According to the statement of facts, when 911 was called Kemp became angry and began to yell profanities and threats at the United States Postal Supervisor. During the altercation he made the following threats and statements toward the United States Postal Supervisor:

“You are going to get yours, MB”

“I’ll kill all you mother f—–s.”

“I am going to get you for this.”

“I am going to kill you, MB. I am a United States Marine.”

During the argument, the defendant also threatened to kill a Roanoke City Police Officer who had responded to the scene. When officers informed Kemp he was under arrest, he became irate and had to be pepper sprayed in order to be handcuffed.

Kemp was transported to the Roanoke City Jail where he continued to be uncooperative. As a result he was taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital for further evaluation. While the defendant was at Roanoke Memorial he continued to make threats that he would pursue the employees at the post office where he was employed and that he would “kill each and every one of them.”

While at Roanoke Memorial Kemp’s blood alcohol level was tested and analysis showed a .289 blood alcohol content. Today in court, Kemp admitted he had left work to retrieve his medicine but while at home consumed two drinks of “corn liquor.” The defendant also admitted that when his supervisor asked him if he had been drinking, he lied and said he had not been drinking when in fact he did have two drinks.

If convicted on all counts, the maximum penalty faced by the defendant is 8 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $250,000. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for January 7, 2008 in District Court in Roanoke.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney Charlene R. Day is prosecuting the case for the United States.