Louisiana Man Faces Up to 15 Years in Prison for Theft of Mail and Unlawful Possession of a Postal Key

New Orleans, Louisiana / State – Kyle Armstrong, age 20, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty on July 20, 2022, before United States District Judge Susie Morgan to an indictment charging him with theft or receipt of stolen mail matter in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1708 and 1702 and with unlawful possession of a postal key in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1704 and 1702, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

According to court documents, on December 9, 2021, Armstrong and co-defendant Kareem Madison were apprehended by law enforcement after attempting to enter three blue collection boxes at the Metairie Main Post Office in Metairie, Louisiana using a United States Postal Service (“USPS”) “Arrow Key.” While Madison stood near the corner of a nearby strip mall, Armstrong removed the US mail items from the boxes and placed them in a duffel bag. After pulling over, officers discovered a black Adidas duffel bag containing a significant amount of US mail on the vehicle’s floorboard. A search of the black duffel bag revealed approximately 424 stolen pieces of US mail and approximately 20 checks stolen from the Greater New Orleans area and Metairie.

Armstrong faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000.00 fine, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee for count one. For count 2, Armstrong faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, a $250,000.00 fine, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee.

U.S. Attorney Evans commended the USPS Inspection Service and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office for their work in investigating this matter. The prosecution is led by Assistant United States Attorneys Rachal Cassagne and Dall Kammer.

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