FEDERAL GRAND JURY RETURNS EIGHT INDICTMENTS FOR MAIL THEFT, EMBEZZLEMENT OR DELAY OF DELIVERY

September 29, 2010
BIRMINGHAM – A federal grand jury today returned eight indictments charging U.S. Postal Service employees and others with stealing or otherwise interfering with the U.S. mail, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance, Sam Montalvo, assistant special agent in charge, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Postal Service, and Frank Dyer, domicile coordinator, U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

In separate indictments filed in U.S. District Court, the grand jury charged five U.S. Postal employees, two employees of postal contract centers, and one individual not affiliated with the Postal Service with either stealing, delaying or destroying mail.

“The United States mail is one of this country’s most respected institutions,” Vance said. “Businesses and citizens, alike, trust and rely on the efficient operation of the mail system. Postal employees and others who abuse this system do the country a great disservice. They will be prosecuted,” she said.

U.S. Postal Service employees indicted today are:

TAMEKA MOORE THOMAS, 36, of Homewood, who worked at the Birmingham Downtown Carrier Facility. MOORE is charged with stealing mail and articles contained therein, from May 2008 to March 26, 2009. Count One charges her with theft of government property; count two charges theft by a Postal Service employee.

ROBIN JOEL BAGLEY, 45, of Birmingham, who worked as a mail handler in the Birmingham Processing and Distribution Center Annex. BAGLEY was charged with delaying mail delivery and theft of mail by a U.S. Postal employee between May 28, 2009, and Oct. 8, 2009.

JANA KAY MUSTGROVE, 31, of Hanceville, who was a mail carrier at the Cullman Post Office. MUSTGROVE was charged with delaying mail delivery and theft by a Postal employee, from December 2008 to June 23, 2009.

JENNIFER SMITH JEFFREYS, 34, of Mount Hope, who worked as a rural carrier associate at the Dansville Post Office. JEFFREYS was charged with delay and destruction of U.S. mail and theft of mail matter by Postal employee from April 10, 2010, to May 29, 2010.

ANGELA DENISE CRUMMIE, 51, of Tuscaloosa, who worked as a Postal carrier at the Eastside Station Post Office in Tuscaloosa. CRUMMIE was charged with delay or destruction of mail and theft of mail by a Postal employee on March 18, 2010.

Two employees of U.S. Postal contract centers, where Postal products are sold inside other retail outlets, were indicted today. They are:

BRENDA ANN POSEY, 48, of Hazelgreen, who worked contract unit in Huntsville. POSEY was charged with theft of Postal Service funds exceeding $1,000, from Jan. 24, 2008, to Sept. 30, 2009.

CAROL POOLE RAMSEY, 51, of Huntsville, who worked at a contract unit in Huntsville. RAMSEY was charged with theft of Postal Service funds exceeding $1,000 between Oct. 28, 2008 to Aug. 26, 2009.

The grand jury also indicted RAYMOND EARL PETTY, 45, of Fairfield, who did not work for the Postal Service or one of its contract centers, on nine counts of possessing personal checks which were stolen from the U.S. mail between Nov. 6, 2008, and April 9, 2009.

Theft of government property is punishable by a maximum 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Theft of mail matter by a Postal employee, delay and destruction of mail, and possession of stolen mail matter are punishable by a maximum five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The government will seek forfeiture in cases involving monetary losses, in addition to required restitution orders for victims of these alleged crimes.

Investigators of the U.S. Postal Office of Inspector General and the Postal Inspection Service investigated the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank M. Salter is prosecuting them.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent and it will be the government’s burden to prove a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.