FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Monday, June 11, 2012
Docket #: 1:11-cr-00380-AWI

FRESNO, Calif. — United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced today that Darren Russell Huffman, 49, of Fresno, pleaded guilty on Friday, June 8, 2012 to participating in a conspiracy to commit postal crimes, to possessing counterfeit postal keys and U.S. mail, and to stealing U.S. mail from a community mailbox.

According to court documents, from March 2011 to September 4, 2011, Huffman conspired with two other individuals to steal U.S. mail from community mailboxes in the Fresno area and to possess counterfeit postal keys and stolen U.S. mail. In addition, Huffman admitted that on September 4, 2011 he stole mail from a community mailbox in Fresno and was in possession of counterfeit postal keys and stolen mail.

This case is the product of an extensive investigation by United States Postal Inspection Service and the Fresno Police Department’s Financial Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Grant B. Rabenn and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Wallace Lee are prosecuting the case.  

Huffman is the final defendant to plead guilty in this case. Co-defendant Jerry Jay Her was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for his involvement in the conspiracy. Co-defendant New Kee Xiong is scheduled to be sentenced on June 25, 2012.

Huffman is scheduled to be sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Anthony W. Ishii on August 20, 2012. The maxim statutory penalty for conspiracy and possession of counterfeit postal keys is five years and a $250,000 fine; the maximum statutory penalty for theft of mail and possession of stolen mail matter is 10 years and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

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