Thomas J.S. Atoigue and Austin Jay San Nicolas Sentenced for Theft of Mail

          SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendants THOMAS J.S. ATOIGUE, age 27, from Dededo, and AUSTIN JAY SAN NICOLAS, age 23, from Santa Rita, were sentenced on November 6, 2018, in District Court by Senior District Judge Alex R. Munson, for Theft of Mail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1708. Defendant ATOIGUE was sentenced to two years probation, 100 hours of community service, and a $100 special assessment fee. Defendant SAN NICOLAS was sentenced to five months home detention with electronic monitoring, two years supervised release, 100 hours of community service, and a $100 special assessment fee.

          ATOIGUE worked as a cargo screener for Unlimited Services Group, which at the time sub- contracted under United Airlines for the handling of cargo for the United States Postal Service. SAN NICOLAS was a cargo lead for Unlimited Services Group. Both defendants processed mail for delivery to Guam.  During their employment, ATOIGUE and SAN NICOLAS stole numerous items from the mail system, including consumer electronics, Hydro Flasks, and vape juice. ATOIGUE retained, gifted, and sold approximately $16,037.87 in stolen items. SAN NICOLAS kept some of the stolen items and gave others to friends. SAN NICOLAS also stole a Springfield firearm during the course of his criminal conduct.  The total value of the items SAN NICOLAS stole and received was approximately $6,412.98.

          U.S. Attorney Anderson stated, “These are two of many recent cases involving the theft of mail by people working in positions of trust within a restricted-access area of Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport. Consumers expect to receive their goods that are shipped via the United States Postal Service. I am concerned that this pattern of activity is deterring off-island retailers from shipping to Guam, or otherwise increasing their cost of doing business here. The Department of Justice, in partnership with the United States Postal Inspection Service, will continue our enforcement efforts to ensure the integrity of the mail system. Those who engage in this unlawful activity should expect prosecution by our office and the consequences of a felony conviction.”

          Inspectors from the United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Stephen F. Leon Guerrero prosecuted the case.