(October 28, 2014) A grand jury in Indiana has indicted a Manager of District Operations (MDO) at the Evansville, Indiana Mail Processing and Distribution Facility (P&DF) on charges of stealing prescription pain medication addressed to veterans in Indiana and Kentucky.
According to a news release issued by (Acting) U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana Josh Minkler’s office:
Josh Minkler, Acting United States Attorney, announced today federal theft charges against a postal employee who allegedly stole mail packages containing, among other things, hydrocodone, a prescription pain medication, intended for delivery to veterans who receive their Veterans Administration medication through the mail. Kevin R. Hicks, 53, of Evansville, Indiana, was charged with theft of mail matter by an employee. The indictment was the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the United States Postal Service Inspector General, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Evansville Police Department.
“Public corruption is one of the highest priorities of this office,” said Minkler. “Those who choose to betray the public’s trust will be held accountable and face the full force of federal law.”
In January of this year, law enforcement officials began an investigation when they determined several packages containing prescription medication from the Veteran’s Administration were not being delivered to the intended recipient. The packages routed to several zip codes in Southern Indiana and Central Kentucky never made it to their destination.
Hicks worked as a manager at the Evansville Postal Processing and Distribution Facility on Petersburg Road in Evansville. As a manager, Hicks had an opportunity to steal U.S. mail. The investigation revealed that Hicks had allegedly stolen over 23 packages containing prescription medications, including hydrocodone, a pain relief medication, for personal use.
According to Assistant United States Attorneys Todd Shellenbarger and Kyle Sawa, who are prosecuting this case for the government, Hicks could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. Hicks will be summoned to appear before a magistrate judge in Evansville.
From the grand jury indictment on October 28, 2014:
From in or around July 2014 through August 2014, in the Southern District of Indiana, Evansville Division, KEVIN RAY HICKS, the defendant herein, while working as a United States Postal Service employee, did unlawfully embezzle and steal packages and prescription pain medication contained therein which were entrusted to him and intended to be conveyed by mail, and carried and delivered by any carrier or other employee of the Postal Service, to wit:
while working as a Manager in the Evansville, Indiana Postal Processing and Distribution Facility, HICKS removed packages mailed by the Veterans Affairs Administration from the processing facility, opened the packages, and stole the prescription pain medication contained therein….
Hicks is a 29-year postal employee.
I can’t seem to access the comments through Postal Reporter anymore, and I was wondering if it is the same for other people… Now I have to click on the story and then leave my comment… What’s changed…
I will check to see if there is a problem with the comments link.
WoW!! he must have been a better thief before management. 29 years ~~ close to the retirement he will never see. Junkies always screw up.
How is this news? It is a daily occurrence at USPS.
This POS is still gainfully employed by the USPS.
Next VP in dc
Making more than $100,000/year and he blows it away stealing from the mail.
Expose him to the Shingles and make him take all of them as he trys for a little sleep !
I just can’t understand why people insist on stealing stuff from the mail stream… They have awesome benefits, pay, retirement, and health care… What the hell are these people thinking… I know growing up, we were taught at a very young age, if it isn’t yours keep your hands off of it…
Well, workers aren’t promoted to management based on intelligence. As we like to say in our office, you have to be in the SFWR club. That’s an acronym for Suck-Ups, ….-Ups, Whores and Relatives. The more letters the better your chances for a higher level office. 29 years down the drain because he’s a junkie and moron. As you say, Patriot, what are these people thinking? Does a management position make somebody believe they’re untouchable? And to steal vet’s meds on top of that! As if the craft image of management isn’t bad enough.