El Paso County Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Possession Of Stolen Mail

DENVER – United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn today announced that Jeffrey Hermansen, age 37, of El Paso County, Colorado, was sentenced to serve 27 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years on supervised release, for possession of stolen mail.  Hermansen appeared remotely in custody and was remanded at the hearing’s conclusion.  The U.S. Postal Inspection Service joined in today’s announcement. 

According to the stipulated facts in his plea agreement, on December 18, 2018, law enforcement found Hermansen in an El Paso County hotel room, taking him into custody based on an active warrant for a federal supervised release violation.  While conducting a protective sweep of his hotel room, officers noticed a mail parcel addressed to an individual other than Hermansen. Police contacted that person and discovered that the package had been stolen while in the mail.  With that information, officers obtained a search warrant for the hotel room, where they discovered 452 pieces of stolen mail, including stolen credit cards, gift cards and checks either from or addressed to 33 victims.  The total loss for the stolen mail possessed by the defendant was approximately $24,257.00.

“The public must be able to rely on a safe and secure mail system,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn.  “ Hopefully others considering such crimes will see the serious penalties here and think again.”

“Postal Inspectors across Colorado are always ready to seek those who disrupt the safe passage of the U.S. Mail, and bring them to justice,” said Ruth M. Mendonça, Inspector in Charge of the Denver Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “We hope today’s sentence will serve as a deterrent to all mail thieves, proving they cannot hide from the diligent work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.”

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.  Related court documents can be found on PACER by searching for Case Number 19-cr-487.  The sentence was pronounced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Phillip A. Brimmer.  Hermansen was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Dunn. 

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.