Bay Area native Craig Curtis Freeman, 35, of Sacramento, has been sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for his role in the daring heist of a U.S. Postal Service mail truck, authorities announced.
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The sentencing, handed down on May 29, 2024, by Judge Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr., marks the culmination of a high-speed chase and a determined investigation that led to Freeman’s capture after he and an accomplice attempted to flee with over 700 stolen pieces of mail.
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Freeman pleaded guilty on the day of his sentencing as part of a plea agreement. The court filings detail how, on December 30, 2022, the mail carrier heard a gunshot and saw Freeman and another suspect stealing mail from the truck before speeding off in a vehicle. Freeman admitted to driving a stolen car, breaking into the mail truck, and making off with the loot.
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The pursuit that followed was described by authorities as chaotic, with Freeman crashing his stolen truck after a high-speed chase on I-880 North. He managed to evade police for a time but was eventually apprehended. His co-defendant was caught shortly thereafter after crashing and attempting to flee.
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Freeman faced charges of breaking and entering into a carrier facility, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2117, and possession of stolen mail and mail theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1708. The case was part of a wider law enforcement response to the increasing threat posed to postal workers, which prompted a public service announcement from U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Postal Inspector in Charge Rafael Nuñez.
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Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Johnson prosecuted the case, with assistance from Beth Margen. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oakland Police Department.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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