Former Mail Carrier Sentenced To Prison For Stealing Mail, Committing ID Theft - 03/04/20

March 4, 2020

Former mail carrier sentenced to prison for stealing mail, committing ID theft

Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill announced that 38-year-old Jamie Dent received a 48 month prison sentence after a jury unanimously found her guilty of mail theft and aggravated identity theft.

"Mail theft is typically thought of someone grabbing a package off someone’s front porch but this was far more systematic. The degree of harm caused by Ms. Dent was far greater. Ms. Dent's conduct impacted more than 200 people across the country. It is likely Ms. Dent had been stealing mail for years before being caught,” said Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Kate Williams, who prosecuted this case. “Ms. Dent – breaching the public’s trust – siphoned everything from rent checks to birthday and graduation cards for the explicit purpose of using our mail system to supplement a lifestyle she thought she deserved."

The jury found Dent guilty of 11 counts of mail theft and one count of aggravated identity theft.

Special Agent-in-Charge John D. Masters said, “The public served by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) places enormous trust in the men and women of the USPS who honorably fulfill their duties daily. However, when that trust is betrayed, the public can rest assured the USPS Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG), and its law enforcement partners, will be vigilant in their pursuit of accountability and criminal prosecution; these crimes will not be tolerated. Today’s sentencing is an example of the dedication and determination exhibited by the legal and investigative teams of the USPS OIG, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office. The USPS OIG, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to vigorously investigate these types of crimes to protect the sanctity of the Postal Service.”

This investigation started in July of 2018, when a representative from a national footwear company contacted the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office regarding the potential theft of numerous cash deposits from its location in Troutdale, Oregon. During the investigation, the Sheriff’s Office learned the company contracted with the USPS to collect and deliver its cash deposits to the bank.

The company reported approximately $30,000 in unaccounted cash deposits.

Despite the company changing its cash deposit policy to require a two-step verification process for all store employees, the company continued having cash deposits go missing. The Sheriff’s Office contacted the USPS OIG to assist with the investigation.

The USPS OIG identified Dent, a mail carrier, as a person of interest after discovering suspicious activity.

Law enforcement identified a second company along Dent’s mail route that also reported missing cash deposit.

During a court authorized search warrant of Dent’s residence, law enforcement located more than 100 pieces of mail, the majority of which were addressed to people living along Dent’s mail route. Contained within the mail located at Dent’s residence were money orders and personal checks.

One of the victims included a female who mailed three money orders to her landlord as rent payment. When representatives for the landlord arrived at her front door, she discovered that the money orders were never delivered. She also discovered that one of the money orders was cashed. Law enforcement learned that Dent had altered the money order to pay the business where she boarded her horses. Law enforcement found the other two money orders along with their envelopes in Dent’s home.

Upon release, Dent will be on 24 months of post-prison supervision. Restitution will be determined within 90 days.

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office recognizes Multnomah County Sheriff’s Deputy Dylan Lerch and Special Agent Irene Brown who assigned is the United State Postal Service Office of Inspector General for their dedicated efforts investigating this case.

The District Attorney’s Office also recognizes DA Victim Advocate Libby Villa and DA Investigator Kirk Tonkin for their assistance throughout trial. 

For more information about the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, please click here.

#MCDA#

Contact: Brent Weisberg, Communications Director 
Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office
Phone: 503.988.6567 | Email: Brent.Weisberg@mcda.us