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U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Patrick Ezell, 51, of Bogalusa, pleaded guilty on Tuesday before the Honorable Wendy B. Vitter, U.S. District Judge, Eastern District of Louisiana, to stealing items from the mail he was entrusted to deliver as a postal employee. Sentencing is set for Nov. 1.

According to documents filed in federal court, Ezell was employed by the United States Postal Service (USPS) as a letter carrier in Bogalusa when he was apprehended stealing items from the mail he was entrusted to deliver for the U.S. Postal Service.

The maximum penalty for the offense is up to five years imprisonment and/or up to a fine of $250,000 or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to the victim followed by up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.

Evans praised the work of the USPS, Office of the Inspector General, in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard R. Pickens II is in charge of the prosecution.