Mt. Pleasant Postal Employee Charged With Theft Of Mail

PITTSBURGH - A Westmoreland County resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of theft of mail matter by postal service employee, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

The one-count indictment named Frank J. Rysz, 49, of Mt. Pleasant, Pa., as the sole defendant.

According to the information presented to the court, Rysz, an employee of the United States Postal Service, engaged in the theft of three first class letters and their valuable contents from the U.S. mails. Rysz also took one advertisement from the U.S. mails.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Paul E. Hull is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The U.S. Postal Service-Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.