An Oakland man has been sentenced to two years in federal prison after admitting to a brazen theft of mail from a U.S. Postal Service truck. The sentencing was delivered on May 29 by U.S. District Judge Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr. Sacramento resident Craig Curtis Freeman, who is 35 years old, and had pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the December 30, 2022 incident, according to the Northern District of California U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The case began when a mail carrier witnessed Freeman, along with an accomplice, stealing more than 700 pieces of mail after he heard a gunshot. In a scene that could have been ripped from an action film, the thieves made their getaway in a stolen vehicle, leading to a police pursuit that ended in crashes and a manhunt. Freeman’s actions, on December 30, involved not only the theft but also recklessly driving the getaway truck on I-880 North in the wrong direction.
A grand jury indicted Freeman on March 28, 2023, for his role in the incident, resulting in charges of breaking into a carrier facility, possession of stolen mail, and mail theft. The Department of Justice’s announcement clarified, that Freeman had taken a plea deal and acknowledged his guilt for both counts.
This particular case is part of a broader initiative to combat a surge in violent crimes against postal workers, as announced last fall by U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and USPIS Inspector in Charge Rafael Nuñez. "The proceeds of this crime are not worth your freedom," Nuñez stated, warning potential criminals against targeting postal workers, according to the Northern District of California U.S. Attorney’s Office. The law enforcement surge included a collaborative response from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oakland Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Johnson led the prosecution effort, with assistance from Beth Margen.
Postal workers have increasingly become targets of crime, prompting this and other measures to strengthen their protection. Certain federal laws, as mentioned by Ramsey, per the Northern District of California U.S. Attorney’s Office, are specifically "carefully crafted to protect the sanctity of the mail, including the sensitive information we entrust to the mail system; the safety of the federal employees and contractors who deliver the mail; and the federal property that is used to ensure mail delivery." Freeman's 24-month sentence acts as a testament to the federal commitment to safeguard these values and is meant to serve as a deterrent for similar crimes in the future.
