Ex-mailman accused of not delivering mail, stealing pleads guilty

The ex-United States Postal Service mail carrier stole and used gift cards and had a stack of undelivered mail in his vehicle between 2010 and March 2015, a federal criminal complaint alleged. The post office used GPS and a surveillance camera to collect evidence, documents show.

In February 2014, at least 11 customers on Young’s route from the Paul Laurence Dunbar Post Office at 4323 W. Third St. said they weren’t regularly getting their mail, the complaint said.

Customers said they had utilities shut off, lost insurance, missed appointments and courts dates, lost out on benefits for their children and paid penalties for late payments because their mail was delivered late or not at all.

The plea deal also calls for Young to pay restitution of $55 for the gift cards plus a $100 mandatory special assessment. If U.S. District Court Judge Walter Rice rejects the deal, Young can withdraw his guilty plea made by bill of information. Rice told Young he “will seriously consider” the plea deal as written.

Defense attorney Thomas Anderson calculated the non-binding sentencing range for Young at 6 to 12 months.

Young admitted to bond violations after the probation office said Young tested positive for marijuana four times in April and May. Rice said he would not revoke Young’s bond, but may revoke it if there is another positive drug test. Young was referred to the NOVA House for possible treatment.

His employment with the post office ended in March, according to Special Agent Scott Balfour of the postal service’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG), what he called the postal service’s “internal affairs.”

The GPS reports indicated Young allegedly sat at a vacant lot outside of his route for 15 to 50 minutes several times per work day, according to affidavit written by written by Jodie Carr, another special agent with the OIG.

According to the complaint, other allegations from people on Young’s route included hundreds of post cards not being delivered, mail showing up late and tampered with and cash being removed from cards.