Syracuse, NY – A 28-year-old Syracuse man pleaded guilty to helping a former college basketball teammate steal mail while working for the United States Post Office, according to federal prosecutors.
Quayshaun Mitchell pleaded guilty to possession with the intent of illegally using a US Post Office key and assisting and inciting mail theft, prosecutors in the New York Northern District prosecutors said Friday night.
Mitchell admitted giving Kevin Ronny Williams a USPS key, with whom Mitchell played basketball at the SUNY Polytechnic Institute, on March 5, 2020 so that Williams could steal mail, prosecutors said.
Williams ended up stealing 49 pieces of mail while wearing Mitchell’s USPS jacket and while carrying Mitchell’s mail bag, according to prosecutors. The plan was unveiled after a traffic stop and all mail was later retrieved.
Williams has also pleaded guilty.
Owning with the intent of illegally using a US Post Office key carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and assisting and complicating theft of correspondence carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Both charges can carry a fine of up to $ 250,000 and a supervised release period of up to three years.
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