Keith Toney, a 43-year-old mail carrier in New Orleans, has been indicted for allegedly accepting bribes as a public official, according to an announcement by Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson. The indictment accuses Toney, who worked for the United States Postal Service, of accepting a thing of value to influence his official duties. This act is a violation under 18 U.S.C. § 201(b)(2).
The charges against Toney could lead to severe penalties, including up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
The indictment outlines that prior to November 21, 2022, and continuing until around June 22, 2023, Toney allegedly received payments to help ship parcels filled with drugs. This involved coordinating with a drug distributor to ensure the delivery of these parcels and personally delivering them to the distributor.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson emphasized the presumption of innocence, stating that the indictment is only an allegation and Toney's guilt must be established beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation is a collaborative effort by the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General and Homeland Security Investigations. Prosecuting the case is Assistant United States Attorney Rachal Cassagne of the Narcotics Unit.
