ATLANTA
A federal jury indicted Thomas O. Beaurem, 25, of McDonough, Ga., a former postal service employee, on a charge of unlawfully delaying and destroying mail, officials announced last week.
He plead not guilty before federal Magistrate Judge Justin Anand.
“People rely on postal service employees to safely deliver their important letters and packages,” said U. S. Attorney John Horn. “Beaurem allegedly violated this trust by dumping over four thousand pieces of mail in a wooded area in Decatur.”
“The overwhelming majority of Postal Service employees are honest and dedicated public servants who are worthy of our trust,” said U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General Special Agent in Charge Paul L. Bowman. “However, when we receive allegations of mail delay or destruction, our agency will aggressively investigate these matters to protect the overall integrity of the Postal Service,”
According to the evidence and indictment, on October 18, 2016, the United States Postal Service was informed that there appeared to be a significant quantity of undelivered mail in a wooded area in Decatur.
U.S. Postal Service investigators located the area and found approximately 4,500 pieces of mail, some with cancellation dates as early as October 5, 2016. Some of the correspondence was too badly damaged to deliver. Beaurem was allegedly responsible for the delivery of the recovered items, according to the evidence.
The mail that was in deliverable condition has since been delivered to its intended recipients by the Postal Service.
The defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.