NEW ORLEANS - United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that COURTNEY C. DUPLESSIS (“DUPLESSIS"), age 30, of New Orleans, Louisiana, entered a plea of guilty on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019 to Theft of Mail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1709.
According to court records, DUPLESSIS was employed by the United States Postal Service as a Letter Carrier originally assigned to the Carrolton Station Post Office and then to the Elmwood Station Post Office. After an investigation by the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Postal Service, it was determined that on various dates from October 2017 to June 2018, DUPLESSIS stole several pieces of mail containing gift cards and cash. On June 19, 2018, special agents with U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (“USPS-OIG") determined DUPLESSIS opened an envelope and removed cash from the envelope. The USPS-OIG agents confronted DUPLESSIS and advised her of her Miranda rights. During an interview, DUPLESSIS admitted to opening several articles of mail and removing cash and gift cards. Agents discovered an additional 54 articles of mail during a subsequent search of DUPLESSIS’s personal vehicle.
DUPLESSIS faces a maximum penalty of five (5) years imprisonment, a $100.00 special assessment fee and/or a fine of $250,000 or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3571. Sentencing is scheduled for May 2, 2019 at 2:00pm.
U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser praised the work of the USPS-OIG. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U. S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Supervisor of the Financial Crimes Unit.
* * *
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
