Postal Service Letter Carrier in Louisiana Sentenced for Stealing Mail After Being Caught in a Sting Operation

Louisiana – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that Javonte Richard, age 29, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced on July 21, 2022, to one year of probation for Theft of Mail by a Postal Service employee, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1709.

According to court documents, the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General (“USPS-OIG”) received public complaints about missing parcels delivered by the Johnson Post Office in Metairie that were later determined to have been entrusted to Richard. On November 14, 2019, USPS-OIG Special Agents inserted a package into the mail for Richard to process and deliver while she was on her route. The item was a mail package addressed to a fictitious person with a fictitious address from another fictitious person with a fictitious address.

Richard opened the package while she was on her route. Shortly after, Richard was stopped by USPS-OIG Special Agents who noticed her retaping the package. Richard later admitted to opening and removing the package from the mail.

Richard was sentenced to one year of probation, 100 hours of community service, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee by United States Chief District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the investigation conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Office of the Inspector General. The prosecution is led by Assistant United States Attorney Jon M. Maestri.