MACON, GA. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Georgia, Middle), published as received.
MACON, Ga. – A Miami, Florida man pleaded guilty to stealing mail and checks out of a Macon mailbox, an action that triggered the victim to hold the defendant at gunpoint in an effort to prevent his escape, announced Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. Jeremy Brown, 31, entered a guilty plea to one count of theft of mail before U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell today. Defendant Brown is facing a maximum term of five years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000 and three years supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for April 1, 2020. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to the stipulation of fact entered in court, the victim observed a white Ford Mustang driven by Brown stopping at the mailboxes at his home and his parents’ home next door on June 12, 2018. Suspecting the individuals inside the vehicle were stealing mail, the victim reviewed his personal security camera footage, which confirmed that mail was being stolen from his mailbox. The victim alerted his mail carrier the following day. The mail carrier called the victim before delivering the mail on June 13, 2018. The victim positioned his vehicle in a neighbor’s driveway so he could block the individuals he suspected were stealing his mail if they came again. Brown returned in the same white Mustang, and again removed mail from the mailbox. The victim blocked the road with his vehicle, called law enforcement and held the suspects at gunpoint until law enforcement arrived. Brown admitted to stealing mail, which included a $1,041 check made payable to the victim, as well as two additional checks in the amount of $15,555.02 and $700, made payable to other individuals.
“Theft of mail is a serious federal offense and violators will be prosecuted,” said U.S. Attorney Charlie Peeler. “I want to thank the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office for quickly responding to this situation, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their excellent work in this matter.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Keyes is prosecuting the case for the Government. Questions can be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or Melissa Hodges, Public Affairs Director (Contractor), United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 765-2362.
