Norfolk, Va. – A former United States Postal Service rural carrier assistant pleaded guilty Monday to theft of mail matter by a postal employee.
Raynard R. Heckstall, 26, started working for the USPS in April of 2014.
Between December 2014 and April 2015, he stole mail intended to be delivered by him on his route. The stolen items included, gift cards, greeting cards, cash and other personal property.
The USPS set up video surveillance on Heckstall after multiple complaints of missing or undelivered mail by customers on his route. The video showed Heckstall rifling through and opening mail in his postal vehicle.
Additional surveillance video from an area department store showed the defendant and a friend redeeming a number of stolen gift cards.
Heckstall admitted to stealing the mail. He estimated that since January 2015, he took as many as 10 greeting cards, three times per week. He also admitted to stealing $400 to $500 in cash.
Heckstall was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2015.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 29 and faces a maximum of five years in prison.
