CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON, a former postal employee from Houma, Louisiana, has been sentenced to two years of probation. This follows his guilty plea to delaying U.S. mail in violation of federal law, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.
Court documents reveal that the delay occurred around June 2021 when mail intended for delivery was instead discarded. The United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General ("OIG") was alerted about missing mail on certain routes in Houma. On June 16, 2021, mail assigned to City Route 40 was found in bushes along Maple Avenue. WASHINGTON was responsible for this route at the time. Similarly, on June 21, 2021, more discarded mail was found in a trash can on Daspit Street along City Route 35, which WASHINGTON also covered.
The investigation recovered a total of 379 first-class letters, 353 standard letters, and two first-class parcels from both locations. Rather than delivering them as required by his duties, WASHINGTON unlawfully disposed of these items.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson commended the investigative efforts of the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice Jr. is leading the prosecution.
