Wood County man sentenced to federal prison for possession of stolen mail

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Wood County man who stole mail in November 2016 was sentenced yesterday to six months in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Richard Thomas Morris, Jr., 38, of Washington, previously pleaded guilty to possession of stolen mail. He was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and $50 in restitution. U.S. Attorney Stuart commended the efforts of the United States Postal Inspection Service and the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, for the investigation.

Morris was a relief driver for a United States Postal Service contractor whose job it was to collect outgoing mail from post offices along a rural route between Ravenswood and Parkersburg. On November 17, 2016, Morris was stopped at the Belleville Post Office by law enforcement officials with the United States Postal Inspection Service. Morris consented to a search of the truck he was driving, and the search turned up a piece of mail addressed to a home in St. Mary’s. The mail had been opened and contained a greeting card. Morris had stolen the greeting card, as well as $50.00 in cash that had been put inside the card by the sender.

Assistant United States Attorneys Eumi L. Choi and R. Gregory McVey handled the prosecution. United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr., imposed the sentence.

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