Dawn N. Ison, U.S. Attorney | Department Of Justice Eastern District Of Michigan
A Farmington Hills resident, Russell Valleau, has been found guilty by a federal jury for assaulting a United States Postal Worker. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck, alongside Rodney Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service's Detroit Division.
Valleau, aged 62, was convicted after a three-day trial presided over by United States District Judge Nancy G. Edmunds. The jury concluded that Valleau targeted the letter carrier due to her race or color. Although he was convicted of assaulting a federal employee, he was acquitted of using a dangerous weapon during the incident.
During the trial, evidence showed that Valleau became upset upon receiving mail intended for a black person and approached his letter carrier's postal truck with racially charged insults. The letter carrier attempted to calm the situation but was met with continued verbal abuse and an attempted physical attack through her vehicle's window. She defended herself using USPS-issued mace before driving away. Valleau persisted with offensive language even while in police custody.
Acting U.S. Attorney Beck emphasized that "a letter carrier was simply trying to do her job," and such behavior "will not be tolerated." Inspector Hopkins reiterated the commitment to protecting postal employees: "Let this verdict be a warning... We will arrest you, and we will seek to prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law."
Valleau is scheduled for sentencing on May 27, 2025, at 10:00 AM and could face up to twelve months in prison.
The case involved investigations by the United States Postal Inspection Service and Farmington Hills Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frances Carlson and Darrin Crawford.
