Acting United States Attorney Robert S. Cessar announced today, May 12, 2010, that Lisa Strickland of West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of destruction of mail by a postal employee.

The one?count indictment named Strickland, age 33, as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment, on or about April 3, 2010, Strickland, being a Postal Service employee, hid approximately 1,198 pieces of mail which had been entrusted and which had come into her possession intended to be conveyed by United States mail.

Assistant United States Attorney Scott W. Brady, who presented the case to the grand jury, indicated that the law provides for a maximum total sentence of five (5) years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

The United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.