Marvis Charles Box, age 67, of Converse, TX, stands charged with stealing an estimated $478,000 of United States Postal Service equipment announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and U.S. Postal Inspection Service Inspector in Charge Robert Wemyss, Houston Division.

A federal grand jury indictment, returned on May 7, 2014, and unsealed following Box’s arrest on Tuesday, charges the defendant with three counts of theft of Government property.  Upon conviction, Box faces up to ten years in federal prison per count.

As a U.S. Postal Service contract employee, Box was responsible for transporting mail to and from the Canyon Lake Post Office.  The indictment specifically alleges that on three separate occasions—November 25, 2013; November 30, 2013; and, December 4, 2013—Box stole U.S. Postal Service mail transportation equipment and sold it for personal financial gain.  The indictment also includes a demand for forfeiture wherein the Government is seeking a monetary judgment in the amount of $478,169.75.  That figure represents the total amount of proceeds allegedly derived from the defendant’s overall mail equipment theft scheme.

Box remains in federal custody pending the outcome of a detention hearing scheduled for 10:00am on May 27, 2014, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry Bemporad.

This case was investigated by inspectors with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Hardy is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.

An indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.