KC Man Pleads Guilty to Attacking Postal Carrier

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to impeding a U.S. Postal Service employee by physically attacking her while she was delivering the mail.

Willie A. Rimpson, 22, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge Greg Kays to one count of impeding a U.S. Postal Service employee.

By pleading guilty today, Rimpson admitted that he physically confronted a letter carrier twice, once putting her in a choke hold and a short time later wrestling her away from her vehicle.

On Feb. 10, 2016, the letter carrier was delivering mail in the 3800 block of Myrtle Avenue in Kansas City, Mo., at approximately 12:15 p.m. She parked her marked postal vehicle and was organizing the mail for that block when Rimpson, whom she recognized, approached her. She handed Rimpson the mail and he asked “Where’s my check?” She replied, “I don’t have a check for you today.” When Rimpson walked back toward his house, the letter carrier began walking to her next delivery.

According to today’s plea agreement, Rimpson came up from behind her and put her in a choke hold with his arm around her neck. She yelled, “Let me go!” and Rimpson replied, “Not until I get my check.” The carrier kept swinging her arms back and forth until she was able to get away from him. She continued to deliver the rest of the mail for that block.

When she began walking back to her vehicle, she saw Rimpson come out of his house. She tried to walk fast to get to her vehicle before Rimpson could stop her, but he blocked her from opening the door of her vehicle. Rimpson put his hands up in a boxing stance and said, “Come on!” He physically kept her from entering her vehicle by wrestling her away from the vehicle. She struggled to get away from Rimpson; she was able to push him away, enter her vehicle and drive away.

Under federal statutes, Rimpson is subject to a sentence of up to eight years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stefan C. Hughes. It was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.