Latest news with #U.S.PostOffice
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Five Augustans await sentencing for stolen mail, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft in separate cases
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Five Richmond County defendants face various prison sentences after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a master key for postal service mailboxes and other felony counts occurring in 2023. Davion Chelsea Easterling, 26, and Corey Jamario Gunter, 24, both of Augusta, await sentencing after pleading guilty to Aiding and Abetting Possession of a Stolen Mail Key. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, plea agreements subject each defendant to a statutory penalty of up to 10 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and up to three years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. According to court documents, Easterling was employed by the U.S. Postal Service and shared a residence with Gunter. An investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Richmond County Sheriff's Office in 2023, led to a search of their residence pursuant to a state search warrant, where investigators reportedly found large quantities of stolen mail and multiple postal bins, along with a master key used to access postal service boxes. The investigation revealed that mail was stolen from a USPS Blue Box, located at the U.S. Post Office, 3108 Peach Orchard Road in Augusta. U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall will schedule sentencing hearings for Easterling and Gunter upon completion of pre-sentence investigations by U.S. Probation Services. Cameron Martinas Curry, 22, and Quavaun Enreco Rhodes, 22, both of Augusta, await sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Stolen Mail Key, Possessing Stolen Mail Matter, Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft. Both face up to 30 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and up to five years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. Curry and Rhodes were detained by the Columbia County Sheriff's Office for a traffic stop after suspecting that the defendants had stolen mail from a USPS Blue Box, located at the U.S. Post Office, 125 Commercial Boulevard in Martinez. Upon contact with the defendants, the deputies observed what appeared to be stolen U.S. Mail inside the vehicle. An investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service determined that there was no forced entry on the USPS Blue Box. After searching the area, a pair of U.S. Postal Master Keys were found less than thirty yards from the vehicle. A federal search warrant was obtained for both defendants' phones and agents found several check images with a face value totaling $485,000. Court documents showed that text messages and screenshots revealed that they had stolen checks from the mail and had been depositing, altering or selling them for the Purpose of Bank Fraud or Identity Theft. U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen will schedule sentencing hearings for Curry and Rhodes upon completion of pre-sentence investigations by U.S. Probation Services. Earl Demetrius Overton, 32, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, Bank Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft related to stolen mail. He faces up to 30 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and up to five years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. Overton was arrested by RCSO, pursuant to an arrest warrant, while driving a vehicle. The defendant was reportedly found to be in possession of a firearm and is a prohibited person because of a previous felony conviction. A follow up search warrant of the defendant's home revealed numerous stolen checks, stolen mail, and various debit cards belonging to other people. Investigators revealed that Overton was stealing checks from the mail and depositing, altering or selling them for the purpose of Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft. U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall will schedule a sentencing hearing for Overton upon completion of pre-sentence investigations by U.S. Probation Services. '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. 'The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to protecting our customers and preserving the integrity of the mail.' If you believe you are a victim of mail theft from the Martinez Post Office, or the Peach Orchard Road Post Office between the dates of March 1, 2023 and November 30, 2023, and you have not been contacted by the United States Attorney's Office, you can file a report by June 30, 2025, with the United States Postal Inspection Service at referencing USPIS Case Numbers 4183320-MT and 4207963-MT. This investigation is on-going. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Newsweek
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
America Could Get 68 New Zip Codes: Here's Where
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Dozens of communities across the United States could get new zip codes under a bill introduced by Representative Lauren Boebert, a Colorado Republican, with one mayor telling Newsweek the bill could significantly benefit his community. Why It Matters Currently, many communities have outdated zip codes that may cause issues including slower mail delivery or delayed emergency service response times. Supporters of Boebert's bipartisan bill believe this legislation would solve that issue for some communities by giving them an updated zip code. What to Know The bill, known as H.R. 3095, advanced through the powerful House Oversight Committee this week. In total, the legislation would give 68 communities from 19 different states new zip codes if it becomes law. Towns and cities from California to New Hampshire could have new zip codes under this bill. This map shows which communities would have a new zip code. Glendale, Wisconsin, is one city included in the bill that has dealt with challenges because of its current zip code system, Glendale Mayor Bryan Kennedy told Newsweek in a phone interview Friday morning. The Milwaukee suburb is divided into three separate zip codes despite only having less than 14,000 residents. This is largely because Milwaukee County zip codes were drawn up before the municipality was established in 1950, he said. This means that residents' mail comes to a Milwaukee address, even though they live in Glendale. This has created "confusion" in the postal system, Kennedy said. "We have significant delivery issues with a number of years with absentee ballots, tax payments, water utility bills—people mailing from the post office in Glendale to City Hall, which is just over a mile away in a different zip code, and then taking one, two, three weeks to get to city hall," he said." A U.S. Post Office truck sits parked in North Haledon, New Jersey, on February 10, 2022. A U.S. Post Office truck sits parked in North Haledon, New Jersey, on February 10, have been "disenfranchised" in elections because they mail their ballots a week before Election Day, but it doesn't make it to City Hall on time, he said. The city has faced other zip code-related challenges, such as when Milwaukee created a new sales tax implemented by zip code, and some suburban retailers automatically started charging that new tax, which went to Milwaukee, rather than the city it is actually in. "We know there are problems with U.S. Postal Service. We saw a lot of the reforms they've tried to do over the past decade," he said. "When you implement those kind of reforms and you don't also implement a way of streamlining delivery to people, you're going to find situations like ours, where delivery got significantly worse." Boebert's office, in a press release this week, wrote that communities in Colorado have faced similar issues—sales tax revenue, insurance rates, mail delivery rates and emergency response times have all been negatively affected by these communities not having a unique zip code, her office said. What People Are Saying Boebert wrote in a statement: "It may not be an issue that draws headlines, but zip code reform is a topic I continue to be passionate about because it impacts the daily lives of so many small-town residents in the 4th District and beyond. Mayors and community leaders from every part of Colorado have made it clear fixing this problem is a priority for them and I am determined to finish the job this Congress after getting our bill through the House Oversight Committee this morning." Castle Pines Mayor Tracy Engerman wrote in the statement: "We value our relationship with the Congresswoman and, on behalf of our National Zip Code Coalition, I personally want to thank her for unwavering leadership on this issue. Lauren knows this is not a partisan issue and has worked across the aisle to make this bill happen. I believe this will be the year that she gets this bill through Congress." What Happens Next Boebert's bill has support from both Democrats and Republicans, with a total of 30 cosponsors, many of whom represent communities that could have new zip codes if the legislation becomes law. It's unclear when, or if, the bill will be brought to a vote on the floor of the House.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Odessans asked for new courthouse input
May 14—The general consensus of a Wednesday public meeting to guide the look and amenities of the coming courthouse seems to be creating a space that the next generation will find was a good investment. Members of the Butler-Cohen design-build team met with a variety of Odessans from those who work at the courthouse to elected officials to folks who are just interested in the project. A new courthouse is coming and is funded by $325 million in certificates of obligation issued by county commissioners last November. The certificates will also fund an overhaul of the Ector County Juvenile Justice Center. Since that time it's been a bit of a roller coaster of land purchases and a current state of uncertainty of where the courthouse will be built. The preferred plan is to build it at the site of the current downtown U.S. Post Office. The county purchased that land for $4.7 million last year. What is holding things up is an agreement with the USPS to abandon that office and relocate as they still have a lease on the space despite the sale of the land. Originally the county was going to assist the USPS in finding a new location but that has been abandoned as the amount the USPS pays to lease the downtown location and the needs of the USPS for what that new office will entail have been problematic, per County Judge Dustin Fawcett. Fawcett has said the county now hopes to get the USPS to sign on the dotted line to leave their current spot and move into the bottom floor of the planned parking garage that will sit near the new courthouse. That agreement, Fawcett said, should have some answer in the next 30 days or so. If a deal cannot be reached the new courthouse will have to be relocated. Commissioner Samantha Russell has pitched locating the new courthouse at the site of the current health department. That plan, Fawcett said, was looked at about 18 months ago by the court prior to Russell taking office. On Tuesday members of the committee created to look at building a new library admonished the court telling them that health department land was promised to the group for a new library build. The library group did not walk away Tuesday with the deed to the land but did get a promised $10 million in county funds moved into an account that can be used as the new library moves forward. They were asked to be patient until word from USPS and their plans are decided. On Tuesday the commissioners court also agreed to allow Butler-Cohen the use of the old Henderson Drug building as a construction office for the life of the courthouse project. The Butler-Cohen reps led the Wednesday meeting and said other meetings as well as a website and a QR code will be used to keep the public informed and to solicit suggestions from Odessans about what they called a project that will change the face of downtown Odessa. Participants asked for a new courthouse that is cost efficient, taxpayer friendly, easy to maintain and accessible to all. Parking was a major concern that came up over and over. Russell had pitched not building a parking garage in a previous commissioners meeting but that idea seemed to be overwhelmingly panned Wednesday by those who work downtown and use the courthouse daily. Some said courthouse staff can have to walk several blocks just to get to the office and that a parking garage is important. Butler-Cohen reps said there is value in having these meetings for the collaboration and to end up with a system that is user friendly and what the community needs. Other ideas thrown out included an outdoor area that is secure for employees to use as well as color coordinated signage and drive through or walk up windows for those doing business at the court. On June 23 the group will meet stakeholders for operational discussions. The new courthouse will be funded by $325 million in certificates of obligation issued by county commissioners in November. The debt will increase property taxes for Ector County residents. Owners of a $210,000 home in Ector County will pay about $17 more a month in property taxes. A $210,000 home has a $170,000 taxable value. The certificates will also fund an overhaul of the Ector County Juvenile Justice Center.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tuesday is Oregon voters' last chance to register ahead of Special Election in May
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – If you've been meaning to register to vote, today is your last chance before the May 2025 Special Election. Eligible voters have until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29 to or complete a voter registration form to turn in to their county's local elections office. Photos: Truck tips over, spills liquid on Highway 30 after large crash The state will begin sending out ballots on April 30 ahead of Election Day on May 20, and officials say that voters should receive their ballots by May 8. Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read said this special election will determine the fate of such as who sits on school boards and who manages water and rural fire districts. Other ballot measures include school funding and road maintenance. 'The May Special Election will have a big impact on the issues Oregonians care about most,' Read said. 'If you want to receive a ballot in this election, make sure you are registered by the deadline. Be a decisionmaker for your family and your community.' Parents who caused son's fentanyl overdose turn themselves in, await sentencing To register, residents with a valid driver's license, driving permit, or ID can head to the . Those without a valid form of ID will need to fill out an Oregon Voter Registration Card. Those in Multnomah County can find these cards at the U.S. Post Office, their nearest location, and the Multnomah County Duniway-Lovejoy Elections Building. Voters who have already registered can check their status online using the . For more information on your local elections, visit their or read the voter pamphlet sent to your registered address. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
24-04-2025
- Miami Herald
Passed-out driver had post office master keys, stolen credit cards, CA cops say
Officers checking on a driver found passed out in a vehicle parked next to community mailboxes discovered post office master keys, stolen credit cards and hundreds of pieces of stolen mail, California police reported. Officers found the 1993 Jeep Cherokee with the engine running at 4:45 a.m. Wednesday, April 23, Hemet police said in a news release. When officers woke the man behind the wheel, they spotted lockpicking tools, credit cards and a brass key marked U.S. Post Office property, police said. A search of the Jeep also turned up a baggie of methamphetamine, stolen debit and credit cards, and hundreds of pieces of stolen mail from Hemet, Temecula, Murrieta, Winchester, Menifee, South Gate and Compton, police said. Police found EBT, debit, credit and insurance cards. They also found a total of four post office master keys used to unlock mailboxes, police said. Officers arrested Naythan Story, 42, on charges of possessing stolen property, possessing burglary tools, possessing methamphetamine and possessing access cards, police said. Detectives are working with the U.S. Post Office to investigate. They ask that anyone with information contact 951-765-2423 or paguila@ Hemet is about a 45-mile drive southwest from Palm Springs.
