ST. LOUIS – A brazen mail thief was put behind bars for 19 months after stealing mail from mailboxes in Chesterfield, Missouri. U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk handed down the sentence to Christopher Ali Pate, 32, on Thursday.
Pate pleaded guilty in March in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one felony count of mail theft. His co-defendant, Eryk Campbell, 28, pleaded guilty to the same charge in February.
The pair stole mail from multiple mailboxes in Chesterfield on Aug. 28, 2023. They then drove to a gas station in St. Louis, where they fled and refused to stop for police, throwing stolen mail out of the vehicle as they drove away.
Campbell was also sentenced for his role in the crime. He received six months behind bars and 16 months of supervised release.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cort VanOstran prosecuted the case.
The incident highlights the importance of mail security and the consequences of breaking the law. Law enforcement agencies are reminding citizens to secure their mailboxes and report any suspicious activity.
Pate’s case serves as a warning to those who would engage in similar crimes. The courts will not hesitate to impose harsh penalties on those who steal mail and disrupt the lives of innocent citizens.
The case is a reminder that the U.S. Postal Service is committed to protecting the public and its mail.
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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