A former mail carrier for the Bee Branch post office in Van Buren County was sentenced Monday to two years' probation for stealing gift cards and cash from cards and letters she delivered.
Sheila Watts, 35, pleaded guilty in April to a charge of theft of mail by a postal employee. At the plea hearing, she acknowledged that she had stolen mail on several occasions in 2014, although some of it was retrieved by a postal investigator who used a "test card" as bait to catch Watts in the act. The investigator then found some of the stolen goods at Watts' home.
In March, Watts pleaded guilty to an "information," meaning she waived her right to have the accusations against her reviewed by a federal grand jury. A federal prosecutor said the post office began investigating after receiving several complaints from residents about missing mail. The prosecutor said a postal investigator placed $50 cash and an electronic transmitter in a "test card," which looked like an ordinary mailed card waiting to be delivered, and found it missing after Watts' shift ended and she went home.
The investigator went to Watts' home and asked her whether she had the card, and she admitted she had taken it, the prosecutor said.
Although Watts agreed at her plea hearing that she would pay restitution to any victims, there was no restitution ordered on Monday, indicating that any thefts resulting in monetary losses had already been resolved.
While on probation, Watts must participate in mental health treatment, U.S. District Judge Leon Holmes said in response to a request from Watts' attorney, Lisa Peters.
Metro on 11/11/2015