Natchez, Miss. - Virginia Perkins, 49, of Lake, Mississippi, pled guilty today before Senior U.S. District Judge David Bramlette III to delay or destruction of U.S. mail by a postal employee, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Cave, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (OIG), Southern Area Field Office.
Perkins was employed as a mail carrier. On Jan. 17, 2017, following numerous complaints regarding undelivered mail along her route, agents conducted surveillance of Perkins as she delivered mail. The agents found that mail was not being delivered as addressed. A search of her vehicle yielded approximately 2,044 pieces of letter mail and 340 flats that Perkins did not deliver. As a result of this investigation, Perkins submitted her resignation to management.
“The conviction obtained today has been the culmination of a thorough investigation completed by our agents to ensure the continued protection of the integrity of Postal Service delivery systems," said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Cave, of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General Southern Area Field Office. “The USPS-OIG, along with our law enforcement partners is vigilant and will continue to vigorously investigate these types of cases."
Perkins is currently released on bond and will be sentenced by Judge Bramlette on June 4, 2019, at 1:30 pm in Natchez. She faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by agents from the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Purdie.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
