Former Mail Carrier From Fort Worth Sentenced To 30 Months In Federal Prison For Possessing Stolen Mail

FORT WORTH, Texas — A former carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, who pleaded guilty in October 2013 to one count of possession of stolen mail, was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Fort Worth, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

Hubert Lavell McDonald, 42, of Fort Worth, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Terry R. Means to 30 months in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $400,000 in restitution to Cash America International, Inc. (CAI).  Judge Means ordered that McDonald surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on March 10, 2014.

According to documents filed in the case, from June 2011 and December 2012, McDonald stole jewelry items mailed from CAI to the company’s corporate address in Fort Worth. 

On March 9, 2012, special agents with the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (OIG) executed a search warrant at McDonald’s residence.  Agents found a gold Bulova watch belonging to CAI that McDonald admitted he had stolen from his mail route.  Additionally, during the search, agents found one gold “Joe Rodeo” watch belonging to CAI and $8,000 in cash proceeds from the sale of other mail matter that had been stolen.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service OIG.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Wolfe prosecuted.