Postal employee pleads guilty to causing over $42,000 in damage to U.S. property

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Falls Church woman pled guilty today to causing damage to property of the United States.

According to court documents, on Jan. 16, mail carrier Lolita Brickhouse, 31, had concluded her work shift and began looking for her cellphone. Brickhouse began accusing other USPS employees and supervisors of stealing her cell phone. Brickhouse proceeded to violently knock over and throw objects around the postal facility. She personally insulted her supervisors and coworkers and taunted them to call the police.

Without authorization, Brickhouse took a set of vehicle keys, walked to the parking lot, and entered a USPS vehicle. Shen then deliberately rammed the vehicle into another USPS vehicle with such force that the second vehicle collided with and damaged a third USPS vehicle. Brickhouse exited the USPS vehicle and used her metal water bottle to break and shatter a driver-side window. As a result of the violent crash, Brickhouse totaled the second USPS vehicle.   

Brickhouse is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 16 and faces up to 10 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff accepted the plea.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake Drucker is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-152.