Exclusive: US attorney talks 'exploding' mail theft cases and growing prosecutions
As crimes against postal carriers continue across greater Cincinnati, investigators are prosecuting a growing number of cases, hoping to send a message to the people putting federal employees at risk and disrupting mail security.
For the first time since the crime trend started in Cincinnati, two years ago next month, U.S Attorney Kenneth Parker discussed the crime trend and how his office is addressing cases. He sat down for an interview with WLWT Investigative Reporter Jatara McGee.
"It's the integrity of that system that is of utmost importance," Parker said. "These individuals of all ages feel that they can go out and assault persons who are just trying to deliver our mail."
For the last two years, WLWT has tracked robberies of postal workers, often at gunpoint, from Dayton to Covington, Kentucky to Colerain and in many Cincinnati neighborhoods in between.
"I don't think any of the U.S. attorneys thought that they would be exploding like they are," Parker said. "They have increased roughly 500 percent."
Since May, Parker's office has charged a dozen people in crimes tied to postal carrier robberies in Cincinnati. He said more cases and potential prosecutions are pending.
"They believe they can get away with the money. Again, how much is your freedom worth?" Parker said. "It's not worth it. Some of these monetary gains people believe they're going to acquire, you know, you're going to look up to 10 years, possibly up to 25 years in prison. And you have to say to yourself, was it worth it."
One just wrapped up.
Three Cincinnati men — Lawrence Sherman, Brandon McCollum and Jeffrey Wiley — were sentenced to prison Monday in federal court for conspiring to commit mail theft. Their sentences range from two years in prison to 40 months.
Earlier this year, WLWT obtained police dash camera video of a high-speed chase on Winton Road. The video shows paper flying out of a Jeep, that police said was stolen. Police later identified the items as stolen mail, particularly checks, credit cards and W-2 forms. Those documents and the police video became evidence in a federal investigation against Sherman, who police said was driving the stolen vehicle during the chase. The evidence also helped investigators tie Sherman, McCollum and Wiley to a mail theft scheme.
Court documents said the three were stealing USPS arrow keys, which are universal keys used to access blue collection boxes, to steal mail from boxes, stealing valuable information and cash and washing checks to steal from innocent victim's bank accounts.
According to federal investigators, the trio stole between 250-thousand and 550-thousand dollars.
When asked if investigators are starting to get a handle on the problem, Parker said, "Yes. I believe that they are doing their best to address these individuals and groups. Will I say there won't be one tomorrow? I can't say that."
Parker also said he is asking USPS for more resources to prosecute cases in the southern district of Ohio and when cases warrant it, leverage stricter penalties against defendants.
"I've spoken to the U.S. Postal Service about acquiring a special assistant U.S. Attorney to come down, even assist us with prosecuting cases and strictly these cases," he said.