Former Postal Worker Pleads Guilty To Stealing Packages, One With Guns

FLORENCE – A former U.S. Postal worker pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to conspiracy and mail theft in connection with a scheme to redirect packages, including one containing 11 handguns, to an accomplice, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Executive Special Agent in Charge Max Eamiguel.

RODNEY DEWAYNE CLARK, 34, of Birmingham, entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Inge P. Johnson to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and two counts of theft of mail by an officer or employee of the Postal Service. Clark is scheduled for sentencing Aug. 22.

According to court records, Clark worked at the Postal Service's Birmingham Distribution Center handling and directing mail in June 2012 when he conspired with an associate, Daltery Robinson of Birmingham, to embezzle packages by affixing new mailing labels to them and redirecting them to his associate's home.

Clark notified Robinson by text message or phone call of the pending delivery of embezzled mail. On June 7, 2012, according to court records, Clark sent a text message about a stolen package he was redirecting to Robinson's address, which contained 11 Jimenez handguns. The text read: "Got one comn pow pow $ROCAFELLAS$." That package had been addressed to Gold Star Pawn in Bessemer.

Once the packages were delivered to Robinson, Clark would pay him $200 for each package, according to court records.

Robinson pleaded guilty in November to one count of theft or receipt of mail matter.