Former Letter Carrier Pleads Guilty to Dumping U.S. Mail

Nine Trash Bags of Mail Recovered from Overgrown Lot
 

NORFOLK, Va. – Shalita Corley, 31, of Portsmouth, Virginia, pleaded guilty today to one count of secreting and delaying U.S. mail, which she had been entrusted to deliver.

A statement of facts filed with the plea agreement reported Corley worked as a city carrier assistant with the United States Postal Service (USPS) from November 3, 2014 through February 6, 2015, when she resigned her position.  On February 3, 2015, a Norfolk resident observed Corley acting suspiciously and walking about an overgrown lot abutting the Lafayette River in Norfolk.  After Corley drove away in her USPS vehicle, the resident investigated and found two trash bags containing hundreds of pieces of mail, including what appeared to be one or more envelopes containing checks.  The resident collected the mail and promptly turned it over to the USPS.  Further investigation during the ensuing week by residents and the USPS led to the recovery of other mail scattered about the lot and seven additional trash bags containing undelivered U.S. mail, including what appeared to be bank statements, end of year tax mailings, USPS priority mail, letters from service members in the armed forces, and other mailed advertisements and the like.  Review by agents with the USPS Office of Inspector General revealed that these items of U.S. mail had been postmarked on days falling within the first four weeks of January and the first week of February 2015.  The USPS later delivered all of the recovered mail to its intended recipients.

A Norfolk federal grand jury indicted Corley on March 4, 2015. Corley faces a maximum penalty of five (5) years in prison when she is sentenced on July 15, 2015. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Paul Bowman, Special Agent in Charge, USPS, Office of Inspector General, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by Chief Judge Rebecca Beach Smith of the United States District Court.

This case was investigated by USPS, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Krask is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:15-cr-25.