Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Steal Mail, Possession of a Postal Service Mail Key and Possession of Stolen Mail

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that CHAD WOODS (“WOODS”), age 29, of New Orleans, was sentenced on April 24, 2025, after previously pleading guilty on December 19, 2024 to Conspiracy to Steal United States Mail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371; Possession of a United States Postal Service (USPS) “arrow” key, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1704; and Possession of Stolen Mail that had been deposited into authorized mail receptacles, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1708.

According to the indictment, on June 23, 2022, WOODS and another man stole mail from one location, and attempted to steal mail from another location, in Kenner, Louisiana.  The co-conspirator acted as the driver and WOODS used the USPS key to steal mail from the first location.  After a police chase, the pair were found in possession of 36 stolen checks, including one forged counterfeit check, six opened pieces of mail, and the USPS “arrow key” used to open the USPS mailboxes to steal the mail.

United States District Court Judge Eldon E. Fallon sentenced WOODS to five years of probation, with the special condition that he serve one year of home detention and pay a mandatory $300 special assessment fee.

Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Kenner Police Department in investigating this matter.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon Maestri of the General Crimes Unit is charge of the prosecution.