RURAL LETTER CARRIER PLEADS GUILTY TO STEALING AND USING POSTAL CUSTOMERS’ CREDIT CARDS AND AGGRAVATED IDENTITY THEFT

(HOUSTON) – Former rural carrier, Rodney Ervin, 41, of Humble, Texas has pleaded guilty to mail theft, access device fraud and aggravated identity theft, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today. 

Ervin pleaded guilty to each of the three charges this morning before United States District Judge Melinda Harmon. Judge Harmon accepted Ervin’s guilty pleas and has set sentencing for Jan. 30, 2009.  Ervin faces a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment for the mail theft conviction and 10 years imprisonment for the unauthorized use of the access device conviction. Additionally, Ervin also faces a mandatory two-year minimum sentence on the aggravated identity theft conviction which must be served consecutive to any sentenced imposed on the other counts of conviction. Ervin was indicted and charged with all three counts of conviction on July 17, 2008.                      
 
Ervin began his employment with the U.S. Postal Service as a rural carrier associate on Aug. 28, 1999. He was assigned to work at the Bear Creek Station on Cairnway Drive in Houston. The investigation leading to the charges was triggered by the receipt of a complaint concerning fraudulent credit card charges from a customer residing on the route serviced by Ervin. 

The United States Postal Service - Office of Inspector General investigation following the complaint ultimately identified Ervin on video surveillance at multiple merchant locations including Target, Exxon, Texaco and Academy Sports and Outdoors using the credit cards of three postal patrons residing on his route. In each of these transactions, Ervin fraudulently signed the legitimate customer’s name. To date, Ervin has been identified in connection with a total of approximately $2,517 in fraudulent charges to credit cards stolen from the U.S. Mail.

Ervin has been permitted to remain free on bond pending his sentencing.

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