PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Duquesne, PA, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of conspiracy and mail theft, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Ron Matthew Sharp, 42, pleaded guilty to four counts before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that from February through May of 2018, Sharp, along with a co-defendant, entered multiple apartment buildings in the Shadyside and North Oakland areas of Pittsburgh, and opened United States Postal Service packages or other mail items that were not addressed to them, stole packages, and stole items from within packages that had been left at authorized mail depositories. Defendants then provided items they had stolen from the mail, including gift cards, to others, who redeemed the gift cards at various locations, including Giant Eagle and GETGO. Defendants also re-sold, and instructed others to attempt to re-sell, items defendants had stolen from the mail.
Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for Feb. 13, 2019. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Sharp remains incarcerated pending the sentencing hearing.
Assistant United States Attorney Christy C. Wiegand is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Postal Inspection Service and the United States Department of Homeland Security conducted the investigation leading to the prosecution of Ron Matthew Sharp.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
