Nicole Marie Lance, 30, of Billings, Montana, pled guilty on May 9, 2011, to six counts of mail theft, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. Lance was indicted in January, 2011 for stealing outgoing mail from residential mailboxes in O’Fallon, Fairview Heights, Belleville, and Lebanon, Illinois, from December 13 through 24, 2010. Lance took items of value from the mail, including checks that she altered to make payable to herself to present to money services for cash. Lance faces a penalty of up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, or both, and a term of supervised release of up to three years. The sentencing of Lance is scheduled for August 22, 2011.

The investigation of the case was handled by the United States Postal Inspection Service. The prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin F. Burke.

 

 

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