Mailman Stole Gift Cards From Willowick, Eastlake Resident

WILLOWICK, OH — A mailman for Cleveland's east side suburbs has been sentenced for stealing gift cards from people along his mail route. He will spend the next six months in prison.

“As the holidays approach, this case is a good reminder that people should be cautious about sending cash or gift cards in the mail,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “The vast majority of postal employees are dedicated workers, but this case reminds us that there are always Grinches among us.”

Sonte Gibbons, 25, of Cleveland, pleaded guilty earlier this year to theft of mail by a postal employee. He was working out of the Willowick Post Office, starting in September 2016, and delivered mail to residents in Eastlake and Willowick.

On April 13 2017, Gibbons got a letter he was supposed to deliver to a home on E. 331st Street. Inside the letter was a $10 Walmart gift card. Three days later, Gibbons went to Walmart in full postal uniform and redeemed the gift card, court document said.

The U.S. Postal Service's Office of Inspector General began receiving complaints that mail on Gibbons' route had not been delivered. To catch Gibbons, agents prepared a sting.

Ten first-class mail items, with gift cards, cash, or greeting cards, were prepared and sent through his route. Seven of the 10 pieces were not delivered, court documents said. Gibbons was then arrested.

Gibbons' case is the second involving east side postal workers this year. A mailman in Euclid was robbed at gunpoint when two of his coworkers conspired to steal weed he was delivering. Two postal workers were sentenced to prison for orchestrating the robbery.

Anyone who suspects something is amiss with their postal worker, can contact the U.S. Postal Service's Office of the Inspector General special agents at www.uspsoig.gov or 888-USPS-OIG.

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