A Port Arthur resident has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for his role in a mail theft scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs announced.
Charles Vernon Roberts, 27, pleaded guilty to possession of 15 or more unauthorized devices and aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone handed down the sentence on November 19, 2024.
The investigation began after complaints of mail theft at the Tobe Hahn and South End post offices in Beaumont. Surveillance footage showed an individual removing items from post office boxes. License plate recognition technology led authorities to Roberts’ apartment in Port Arthur.
A search of the residence uncovered a counterfeit postal arrow key, 35 checks and money orders, multiple debit and credit cards, and various opened and unopened mail not addressed to Roberts.
The case was investigated by the Port Arthur Police Department, Beaumont Police Department, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Grove prosecuted the case.
