ALBUQUERQUE - Crystal Devon Romero, 33, and Michelle Josephine Candelaria, 25, both of Albuquerque, N.M., pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to theft of mail charges.
Romero and Candelaria were arrested on Jan. 19, 2016, on a criminal complaint charging them with theft of mail and conspiracy. The complaint alleged that the two women conspired with each other to steal mail in Jan. 2015, in Bernalillo County, N.M. Romero and Candelaria allegedly pried open cluster mailboxes and stole mail from them. A search of the truck Romero and Candelaria allegedly used to carry out their mail theft scheme uncovered stolen mail, including checks that had been altered and debit/credit cards.
During yesterday’s proceedings, Romero and Candelaria pled guilty to felony informations charging them stealing mail from Jan. 12, 2016 through Jan. 15, 2016. The guilty pleas were entered without the benefit of plea agreements.
At sentencing, Romero and Candelaria each face a maximum of five years in federal prison. Their sentencing hearings have yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Jon Ganjei.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
