CITY  LETTER CARRIER CHARGED WITH MAIL THEFT

(HOUSTON) – A U.S. Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier has been indicted for mail theft, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno announced today.

Johnnie Harden, 46, of Houston, was charged by a Houston grand jury on April 8, 2010, with two counts of theft of mail by a postal employee. Harden surrendered himself to the U.S. Marshals Service on Monday, April 12, 2010, and has been ordered released on bond pending trial in this case.

The charges against Harden are the result of an investigation initiated by the USPS-Office of Inspector General upon receipt of customer complaints reporting non-receipt of a greeting card intended for a recipient address in Houston. 

Harden is accused of having stolen a $50 Target gift card from the mail entrusted to him for delivery to a USPS customer on Sept. 23, 2009, and two $50 bills enclosed in a second article of mail on Oct. 15, 2009.  

Special Assistant United States Attorney Tammie Y. Moore is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.

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