KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a former part-time postal employee has been convicted by a federal trial jury of delaying the delivery of mail after he was caught on surveillance video putting mail in his pockets, including the money from a young girl’s birthday card.

Leonard V. Jenkins, 44, of Kansas City, Mo., was found guilty of the charge contained in a Feb. 9, 2011, federal indictment.

Jenkins worked part-time at the U.S. Postal Service processing and distribution center in Kansas City, Mo. On Nov. 4, 2008, he was recorded on surveillance video placing mail in his pockets while working on a mail sorting line. Several greeting card envelopes had been ripped open and were found in Jenkins’ work area. Evidence during the trial indicated that a woman had sent a birthday card to her great-granddaughter and enclosed a $10 bill in the card. When investigators found the opened envelope in Jenkins’ work area, there was no money inside.

The investigation into Jenkins’ activities was launched after numerous post offices across the Kansas City metropolitan area received mail that had been opened and rifled through, all of which had been sorted on a machine operated by Jenkins.

Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City deliberated for about four hours before returning the guilty verdict to U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple, ending a trial that began Monday, Aug. 1, 2011.

Under federal statutes, Jenkins is subject to a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Teresa A. Moore and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan C. Hershberger. It was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General.

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