Special Delivery: Philly Mail Carriers Charged In Marijuana Trafficking Case

Two mail carriers have been charged with various crimes after allegedly being involved in a marijuana trafficking ring in Philadelphia, with both facing life in prison and tens of millions in fines.

According to the Eastern District of the U.S. Attorney's Office, Steven C. Williams, 42, and Felicia Charleston, 35, were charged with conspiring with members of marijuana organizations to commit bribery, bribery of a public official, and conspiring with the members of the marijuana organizations to distribute at least 100 kilograms of marijuana.

Not only were Williams and Charleston charged in the three indictments, seven others were charged.

Chester Wynter, 49, Barrington Russell, 44, Damion Parkes, 44, Gillion Watson, 32, Marvia Shirley, 32, Patrick Purrier, 38, and Anthony Washington, 27 are also facing charges in connection with the marijuana trafficking case, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Williams was a postal carrier at the West Market Post Office in Philadelphia and was responsible for delivering United States Postal Services’ packages to addresses in West Philadelphia, which included 48 N. Hobart St. and other addresses in West Philadelphia. Williams allegedly used his position as a postal carrier to divert packages from to Wynter, Russell, Parkes, Purrier and Washington for the purposes of distributing the marijuana contained within the packages, in return for cash.

Charleston similarly allegedly conspired to distribute at least 100 kilograms of marijuana. According to two indictments, Charleston also worked at the West Market Post Office in Philadelphia, but she left her postal route to divert packages to Wynter, Russell, and Washington so they could allegedly distribute the marijuana in the package.

"This indictment is a great example of how our different law enforcement partners can combine resources to combat corruption within the federal government," Acting United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen said in a statement. "The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to investigate and prosecute posta lservice and other federal employees who undermine the integrity of government operations through bribery and other unlawful conduct."

With the charges they are facing, the indicted parties all face the potential sentences:

Based on the quantity of the marijuana involved, the defendants face the following sentences, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office:

Williams – a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment, and a $28,500,000 fine

Charleston – a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment, and a $20,250,000 fine

Wynter and Russell – a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment, and a $10,500,000 fine

Parkes – a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment, and a $10,250,000 fine

Watson and Shirley – a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment, and a $10,000,000 fine

Purrier – a statutory maximum sentence of 65 years’ imprisonment, a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, and a $5,750,000 fine

Washington – a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment, and a $12,500,000 fine.

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