Corpus Christi, Texas – In a brazen abuse of power, a federal jury has found a mailman guilty of distributing narcotics through the mail.
Rudolph Balboa, 30, of Alice, Texas, was convicted on three counts of conspiring to use a communication facility to distribute THC products following a three-day trial. The jury delivered a guilty verdict after deliberating for more than two hours.
Balboa’s scheme, which ran from August 2019 to January 2020, involved using his position as a mailman to make illicit deliveries of narcotics. He was aided by two co-conspirators, who testified against him at trial.
During the trial, law enforcement officials testified about how Balboa abused his position to carry out the scheme. Postal inspectors and special agents also took the stand, revealing how they conducted surveillance on Balboa and recorded him making deliveries at locations other than those addressed on the packages.
The defense attempted to convince the jury that Balboa had no idea what was inside the packages, but the jury was not convinced. They viewed video evidence and heard Balboa’s own confession to the scheme, as well as text messages from his cellphone confirming some of the deliveries.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos presided over the trial and set sentencing for August 31. At that time, Balboa faces up to four years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He was permitted to remain on bond pending the hearing.
The U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Molly K. Smith and Liesel Roscher are prosecuting the case.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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