Mail thief sentenced in federal court

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today the sentencing of a Huntington, Indiana, man for stealing mail from the main post office in Downtown Indianapolis.  Bryon Fisher, 35, was sentenced to 41 months (over three years) in federal prison by U. S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.

“Most of us still get our mail through home delivery or at a post office box,” said Minkler. “People should have confidence that their mail will be delivered safely and untampered with.  Stealing mail is a serious crime that puts people’s privacy, money, and confidence in the mail system at risk.  We will hold people who steal mail accountable.”

In the early morning hours of October, 14, 2014, Fisher entered the U.S. Post Office located at 125 West South Street in Indianapolis with a plan to break into post office boxes and steal mail from them.  He used a small metal crowbar to break open the P.O boxes and steal the contents.  After breaking several boxes and gathering dozens of letters, law enforcement, who had been observing him via a surveillance camera, approached Fisher and apprehended him.

Further investigation revealed that this was not the only time Fisher tried to steal mail from this post office.  He targeted these post office boxes because he knew they would contain a high volume of mail containing checks or other monetary instruments.  His plan was to obtain checks from the letters, alter the checks, and attempt to pass them at retail locations in exchange for cash, gift cards, or other items.

Investigators recovered a large quantity of mail from Fisher, which he had stolen on multiple occasions during 2014.  The stolen mail was originally intended for businesses, including utility companies, as well as charities.  As a result of the theft, payments and donations were never received, which wreaked havoc for senders and recipients of these mail items.  In some cases, people’s utilities were disconnected for non-payment.  Law enforcement has recovered all of the stolen mail items that were in Fisher’s possession and has notified all of those whose mail was affected – both senders and recipients.

“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to vigorously investigate those who would attempt to violate the public’s trust in the U.S. Mail.  Mr. Fisher has been held accountable for trying to damage this trust,” said E.C. Woodson, Inspector in Charge Detroit Division.

According to Assistant United States Attorney Nick Linder who prosecuted this case for the government, Fisher must also pay restitution and serve three years of supervised release after his prison sentence.