Faulkton Man Charged with Obstruction of Correspondence and Delay or Destruction of Mail

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Faulkton, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Obstruction of Correspondence and Delay or Destruction of Mail.

Kenneth Jones, age 60, was indicted on September 10, 2019.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on November 14, 2019, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 5 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that between August 1, 2018, and September 26, 2018, Jones, who was employed as an officer with the United States Postal Service, opened, embezzled, delayed, and destroyed mail that was entrusted to him to deliver.

The charges are merely accusations and Jones is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Officer of the Inspector General.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley is prosecuting the case.   

Jones was released on bond pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.