U.S. Postal Employee In Ennis, Texas, Admits Stealing Mail

DALLAS — Gary Wayne Thomas, 54, of Ennis, Texas, appeared in federal court this morning, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Irma C. Ramirez, and pleaded guilty to an Information charging theft of mail matter by an officer or employee. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine and restitution. Today’s announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

According to documents filed in the case, between August 2011 and September 2012, Thomas worked at the Ennis Post Office, and his duties included assisting customers at the retail window, dispatching raw mail, pulling raw mail from collection boxes and sorting outgoing mail dropped in the post office’s lobby. During that time, Thomas embezzled and stole mail items that were intended to be conveyed by the U.S. mail that had been entrusted to him as a U.S. Postal Service employee.

For example, Thomas stole a birthday card containing a $50.00 Wal-Mart gift card that had been sent from a woman to her six-year-old grandson. That piece of mail had been mailed inside the Ennis Post Office. Thomas used the gift card to purchase personal items at Wal-Mart.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney P.J. Meitl is in charge of the prosecution.