Maple Heights Mail Carrier Arrested For Failing To Deliver

CLEVELAND, OHIO — A 27-year-old mail carrier who has worked for the United States Postal Service in Cleveland and Bedford was charged Friday with the delay or destruction of mail after authorities recently located more than 300 undelivered letters, water bills and books from the Dolly Parton Book Club in the man’s vehicle, federal officials announced.

De’Andrian Rice, 27, Maple Heights, was charged on a federal criminal complaint after an investigation determined that Rice had failed to deliver mail that was intended to be delivered to residents in cities where he has worked, officials from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Ohio and the U.S. Postal Service said in a news release announcing the charges.

Rice was arrested on Oct. 19 in Bedford when authorities searched Rice’s personal vehicle and discovered 335 pieces of mail including 88 letters from the Cleveland Water Department, 32 books from the Dolly Parton book club, election-related mailings from the Ohio Secretary of State and Cuyahoga County Board of Elections along with various other pieces of mail that never arrived at their intended locations.

“Americans depend upon the reliability and security of the U.S. mail, especially during this election season,” U.S Attorney Justin Herdman said in the news release. “Actions by mail carriers and postal employees that violate this trust will result in federal prosecution.”

Rice, who was charged with the delay or destruction of mail or newspapers, was taken into custody on Friday and is scheduled to appear in front of a judge Friday afternoon.

"The vast majority of the 630,000 postal employees are hard-working, trustworthy individuals who work around the clock to deliver the nation’s mail,” U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General Special Agent in Charge Kenneth Cleevely said in the news release. “However, when one of them chooses to violate that trust, special agents will investigate and pursue criminal charges and the employee’s removal."