FORMER CITY LETTER CARRIER PLEADS GUILTY TO MAIL DELAY

(HOUSTON) –  Former city letter carrier Adrian Patton, 45, of Missouri City, Texas, has pleaded guilty to delay of mail, acting United States Attorney Tim Johnson, announced today.

An indictment charging Patton with two counts of delay of mail was returned Aug. 21, 2008, after approximately 1500 pieces of U.S. mail were discovered in his personal vehicle. The investigation leading to the charges was initiated in April of this year by agents of the U.S. Postal Service - Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG) after the Sugarland Police Department notified the agency that following the arrest of Patton on an unrelated matter, an inventory search of Patton’s personally owned vehicle resulted in the discovery of several tubs of deliverable U.S. Mail. 
 
USPS-OIG agents recovered approximately 1,462 pieces of mail from Patton’s personal vehicle. Approximately 844 (57.73%) pieces were First Class Mail and approximately 618 (42.27%) pieces were Standard Mail. A cursory review of the recovered mail revealed bundles of mail for various delivery addresses throughout Patton’s entire route. Patton, who began his employment with the USPS on July 28, 1990, had been assigned to work at the Medical Center Station, 7205 Almeda Road, Houston, Texas.

U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore accepted Patton’s guilty plea and set sentencing for April 20, 2009. Patton faces a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine on each count of the two counts of conviction. Patton remains on bond pending his sentencing hearing.

# # #