Former Postal Employees Plead Guilty to Conspiracy Charges

St Louis, MO – Three former Postal employees of the Network Distribution Center in Hazelwood have entered guilty pleas on charges of diverting mail believed to contain clothing, marijuana and other items to addresses that they controlled for their personal gain.

According to court documents, EDWARD LEWIS, SEAN WEST, KOREY HOWARD and QUENTIN COOK are former employees of the United States Postal Service. West, Howard and Cook searched for and identified mail and over-labeled it to redirect it from its original sender’s intended recipient to themselves, Lewis and others.  The diverted mail included clothing, marijuana, electronics, computer equipment, pottery and personal effects. 

Korey Howard, Florissant, MO, pled today, and Edward Lewis, Hazelwood, MO, and Sean West, Florissant, MO, pled earlier this month.  They pled guilty to multiple charges, including conspiracy, obstruction of correspondence and theft or receipt of stolen mail before United States District Judge Ronnie L. White.  They are scheduled for sentencing in March 2016.

Co-defendant Quentin Cook, Florissant, MO, is awaiting trial in early 2016.

Each charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service-Office of Inspector General and the Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Franks is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

As is always the case, charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt.  Defendant Cook is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.