Postal Employee Charged With Mail Theft
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Acting United States Attorney Robert S. Cessar announced today, March 16, 2010, that Laron Pierce of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of theft of mail by a postal employee.
The one‑count indictment named Pierce, age 18, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment, on or about November 12, 2009, Pierce, being a Postal Service employee, embezzled a small white Priority mail envelope and a parcel.
Assistant United States Attorney Scott W. Brady, who presented the case to the grand jury, indicated that the law provides for a maximum total sentence of ten (10) years in prison, a fine of $500,000, 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.
The United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
