A federal grand jury has indicted six employees of the United States Postal Service and two others on a variety of charges including stealing checks from the mail, throwing away mail that was meant for delivery, submitting false time sheets, and submitting false claims to FEMA related to Hurricane Katrina, U.S. Attorney David Dugas announced Friday.

"Their alleged actions damaged the integrity of the postal system here in Baton Rouge," Dugas said. The announcement included results of several different investigations into wrongdoing within the postal service.

Here are details of the four different cases investigated:

1) Michael A. Goza, age 36, of Baton Rouge, is accused of stealing $3,400 worth of checks from the mail. Goza was employed as a highway contract route carrier with the USPS. He is accused of giving the stolen checks to L'Desha D. Anderson, age 25, of Baker, and Morris Butler, Jr., age 40, of Baton Rouge to be fradulently endorsed and cashed. The three then allegedly shared the proceeds of the stolen checks. All three were indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Anderson was also indicted on four counts of bank fraud and Goza with three counts of mail theft.

2) USPS employee Joyce G. Mayfield, age 52, of Baton Rouge was charged in a two-count indictments with making a false claim and making false statements. The indictment alleges that in September 2005, Mayfield, while a USPS employee, filed a false and fradulent claim with FEMA for Hurricane Katrina disaster assistance benefits. Mayfield, federal prosecutors say, falsely claimed she had been living in Gretna, Louisiana at the time of the storm and the storm caused her to have an essential need for food, clothing, and shelter. If convicted, Mayfield faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or both.

3) Jimmie Armstrong, Jr, age 20, and Shyrone Alexander, age 28, both of Baton Rouge, were each charged in indictments with delay of mail. Armstrong is accused of throwing more than 100 pieces of U.S. mail into a dumpster instead of delivering it. Alexander is accused of throwing more than 50 pieces of mail into a canal. Both were USPS employees. Both incidents allegedly happened in April of 2007. If convicted, both face up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.

4) Shantelle D. Marshall, age 33, and Kerala R. Barrow, age 36, both of Baton Rouge, were each indicted on charges of making false writings and documents. Both are accused of submitted fradulent time-sheets while working at a Postal Service Facility. If convicted, each faces up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.


Source: WAFB