Former Fedex Employees have been Indicted for Stealing Mail from Religious Organizations

Memphis, TN – Three Memphis women have been indicted with stealing mail intended for religious organizations throughout the United States. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee announced the indictments today.

According to the indictments, throughout 2015, Tiara Williams, Crystal Berry and Kimberly Smith worked in the same area in the Memphis FedEx Hub. They targeted mail pieces intended for religious organizations since there was a strong likelihood that they contained U.S. currency. The employees would search through mail, remove some of the contents contained therein and smuggle items off the premises.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "This office takes very seriously our duty to protect the sanctity and security of the United States Postal Service and the U.S. Mail. We work very closely with the United States Postal Inspection Service to defend the nation’s mail system from illegal or dangerous use by mail theft, mail fraud and prohibited mailings; and to ensure public trust in the mail. These indictments show our collective commitment to hold accountable any persons who violate that sanctity and victimize innocent citizens for their own selfish gains."

David M. McGinnis, the Inspector In Charge of the Charlotte Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service, stated, "The Postal Inspection Service takes great pride in protecting postal customers from criminal activity related to the U.S. mail. Postal Inspectors will continue to vigorously investigate and seek criminal prosecution of those who prey on postal customers."

The maximum penalty for mail theft is no more than 5 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Judge Thomas L. Parker, Judge John T. Fowlkes Jr. and Judge Sheryl H. Lipman will preside over these cases respectively.

The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service in conjunction with FedEx security.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Damon Keith Griffin is prosecuting the case on the government’s behalf.