BIRMINGHAM - A federal grand jury today returned separate indictments charging two U.S. Postal Service employees with mail related violations, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and Postal Service Office of Inspector General Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kenny Smith.

The indictments filed in U.S. District Court charge the two Postal Service employees with delaying mail delivery and stealing from the mail.

ERWIN MICHELLE WATSON, 28, of Moulton, is charged with one count of delay of mail and one count of mail theft by a postal employee, both on Nov. 4, 2010. Watson worked as a mail carrier at the Decatur Post Office.

LENNIE MATTHEW WILLIAMS JR., 25, of Birmingham, is charged with delaying mail delivery and stealing from the mail between Aug. 9 and 10, 2010. Williams worked as a mail handler in the Birmingham Processing and Distribution Center Annex.

“Postal employees who abuse this system do us all a great disservice,” Vance said. “My office prosecutes these cases aggressively because we are all entitled to rely on the security of the U.S. Postal Service.”

The maximum sentence for mail theft by a postal employee and for delay and destruction of mail is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The U.S. Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General investigated the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank M. Salter is prosecuting the cases.

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.

###

 

 

 

Return to Top