PHILIPSBURG MAN CHARGED WITH DESERTING THE MAIL

Dennis C. Pfannenschmidt, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced that the Grand Jury for the Middle District of Pennsylvania returned a four-count Indictment against Scott W. Jones, aged 35, of Philipsburg, PA. The charges relate to Jones’ activities as an employee of the
United States Postal Service at Philipsburg and relate to two dates.

On or about May 15, 2008, the Indictment alleges that Jones received commercial mailing circulars to put in postal patrons’ mail boxes. Instead the Indictment claims that he intended to obstruct the delivery of them by detaining and delaying their delivery.

On the other instance, April 30, 2009, the Grand Jury alleges that Jones again received commercial mailing circulars. But on this occasion the Indictment alleges he acted similarly but he secreted those items as well as two first class letters. Ultimately all of this mail was located and delivered to the postal patrons.

If convicted of all charges, Jones faces a maximum sentence of twenty years imprisonment and $1,000,000 in fines. The case was prosecuted by the Postal Inspection Service.

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An Indictment or Information is not evidence of guilt but simply a description of the charge made by the Grand Jury and/or United States Attorney against a defendant. A charged Defendant is presumed innocent until a jury returns a unanimous finding that the United States has proven the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt or until the defendant has pled guilty to the charges.