A former U.S. Postal Service supervisor has entered a guilty plea to charges of stealing checks and precious items, including gold and collectible currency, with a combined worth over $300,000 from the Costa Mesa Post Office. Joivian Tjuana Hayes, 36, of Compton, is looking at potentially 20 years in federal prison following her admission to these charges, as reported by CBS News Los Angeles.
Hayes pled guilty to one count of theft of mail matter by a Postal Service employee and to one count of unlawful transfer, possession, and use of means of identification. After searching her home last month, federal agents discovered items such as a 1914 $100 bill valued at $1,500 and a Confederate $10 bill among the stolen property. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the theft spree occurred from early last year up until December.
The pilfered checks, approximately 20 in total and worth around $284,000, were deposited into various bank accounts controlled by Hayes, a statement revealed by CBS News Los Angeles. Additionally, she also appropriated around $3,000 in postal money orders. Wearing a USPS logo t-shirt, she deposited some of the checks at ATMs.
Hayes’ sentencing is set for May 23 in U.S. District Court, where the charges could land her a maximum sentence of five years for the theft count and up to 15 years for the unlawful transfer, possession, and use of means of identification, as it was stolen her pink wallet containing a U.S. Treasury check payable to a victim for $2,599 during a search of her bedroom, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. The investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, with the prosecution being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Charles E. Pell of the Orange County Office.
