Christopher Escobedo, Possessing Stolen Mail, Texas 2018

Corpus Christi, TX – In a major blow to 'porch pirates,' a 38-year-old Corpus Christi man has been ordered to federal prison for stealing packages left on residents' front porches.

Christopher Escobedo, a Corpus Christi resident, pleaded guilty on March 29, 2018, to possessing stolen mail. He was subsequently handed a 36-month sentence by U.S. Circuit Judge Gregg Costa. The sentence will be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.

According to authorities, Escobedo admitted to stealing packages that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) had left on the front porches of Corpus Christi residents between Dec. 31, 2017, and Jan. 8, 2018. The investigation led by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) in collaboration with the Corpus Christi Police Department (CCPD) identified Escobedo or his vehicle in video surveillance at multiple locations where packages were stolen.

Authorities were able to track down Escobedo and link him to a number of other package thefts in the area. On one occasion, an observant neighbor confronted Escobedo as he attempted to take a package, providing the authorities with a crucial lead.

The court noted that the four counts of conviction represented only those mail theft victims with camera surveillance on their porches and that Escobedo undoubtedly had numerous additional victims.

U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick and Postal Inspector in Charge Adrian Gonzalez commended the hard work and countless hours put forth by the USPIS and CCPD, which resulted in the arrest and prosecution of Escobedo.

Escobedo has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The USPIS conducted the investigation with the assistance of CCPD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert D. Thorpe Jr. is prosecuting the case.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/porch-pirate-heads-federal-prison-stealing-packages