Sterling Mail Carrier Tayson Hidalgo Indicted for Mail Destruction

Denver – The grimy details of a federal crime in Colorado have emerged as 22-year-old Tayson Adam Hidalgo, a former mail carrier from Sterling, faces charges for the delay and destruction of thousands of pieces of mail. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Postal Service Inspector General, Hidalgo was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver for his alleged actions.

Hidalgo appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge on October 20, 2016, where he was read his rights and advised of the charges against him. He was released on a $5,000 unsecured bond and is due back in court on October 25, 2016, for arraignment.

The indictment returned on October 18, 2016, alleges that between October 3, 2014, and April 21, 2016, Hidalgo, while employed by the U.S. Postal Service, unlawfully secreted, destroyed, detained, delayed, and opened letters, postcards, packages, bags, and mail entrusted to him. His intention was to prevent delivery to the intended recipients.

If convicted, Hidalgo could face up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. He is no longer employed by the U.S. Postal Service. The investigation uncovered approximately 26,000 pieces of undelivered mail addressed to residents in Sterling and Fort Morgan, Colorado.

A Town Hall Meeting will be held on November 7, 2016, at 6:00 p.m. at Sterling Middle School to brief the public on the investigation, victim notification, and the return of seized mail.

Victims are advised to visit the U.S. Attorney’s website at www.justice.gov/usao-co for case updates starting October 24, 2016. Joanne Yarbrough, Executive Special Agent in Charge, emphasized that USPS employees are expected to obey the law and that the USPS OIG will investigate violations thoroughly.

This investigation was a joint effort between the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the Sterling Police Department, with prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason St. Julien. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.