Five Augusta residents face prison time after pleading guilty to federal charges tied to stolen U.S. Postal Service master keys used in mail theft and fraud schemes, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia announced Friday.
“Mail theft has become an epidemic,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Tara M. Lyons. “These prosecutions hold accountable these defendants, including one who betrayed the trust granted by her U.S. Postal Service employment.”
Postal worker and housemate plead guilty
Davion Chelsea Easterling, 26, a former USPS employee and Corey Jamario Gunter, 24, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting possession of a stolen mail key. The key could open any USPS lock.
Stolen mail belonging to over 100 victims, checks, money orders and postal bins were found in their shared residence. The mail was stolen from a blue USPS collection box at 3108 Peach Orchard Road. Both face up to 10 years in prison, fines, and up to three years of supervised release.
Curry, Rhodes, Overton face 30-year sentences
Cameron Martinas Curry, 22, and Quavaun Enreco Rhodes, 22, pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen mail key, possessing stolen mail, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. They face up to 30 years in prison, heavy fines and up to five years of supervised release.
Columbia County deputies found stolen mail in their vehicle near the post office at 125 Commercial Blvd. in Martinez. Master keys were located less than 30 yards away. Investigators found images on their phones of checks totaling $485,000 along with messages about stealing and altering checks for fraud.
Earl Demetrius Overton, 32, awaits a sentence of up to 30 years after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft involving stolen mail. He was arrested by Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies and found to be a felon in possession of a firearm. A search of his home revealed numerous stolen checks, stolen mail, and debit cards belonging to others. The investigation found he was stealing checks from the mail and depositing, altering, or selling them to commit bank fraud and identity theft.
Federal sentencing pending
U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall will sentence Easterling, Gunter and Overton after pre-sentence investigations. Judge Dudley H. Bowen will do the same for Curry and Rhodes.
“These cases are examples of individuals who made a decision to engage in criminal misconduct involving the U.S. mail that will not go unpunished,” said Rodney M. Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
“The vast majority of U.S. Postal Service employees are honest hardworking individuals who would never violate the public trust in this manner,” said Jonathan Ulrich, Special Agent in Charge of the USPS Office of Inspector General.
“These convictions send a clear message: law enforcement will not tolerate the theft of our nation’s mail and those who abuse their position of trust will be held accountable,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta.
Investigation and victim resources
The cases were investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the USPS Office of Inspector General, the FBI and the Richmond and Columbia County sheriff’s offices. Assistant U.S. attorneys Joshua Kyle Davis and David Estes are prosecuting.
Anyone who believes they were a victim of mail theft from the Martinez or Peach Orchard Road post offices should file a report by June 30 at USPIS.gov/report, using case numbers 4183320-MT and 4207963-MT.
Victims contacted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office are encouraged to submit victim impact statements and may appear at future sentencings. Hearing dates will be posted at justice.gov/usao-sdga/pr.
