Clarion Man Caught Red-Handed with Stolen Mail
A shocking case of mail theft has come to light in Clarion, Iowa, where a man has been sentenced to three years’ federal probation for possessing stolen mail. Timothy Russell VanZweden, a 50-year-old resident of Belmond, Iowa, was found guilty of one count of possession of stolen mail on November 9, 2018.
According to investigators, VanZweden’s wife was a U.S. Mail carrier, and the couple resided in Belmond, Iowa, in November 2017. Officers executed a search warrant at their home on November 17, 2017, after receiving information that VanZweden had discarded a large trash bag in a dumpster outside a Clarion restaurant containing stolen mail. The search yielded five letters taken from VanZweden’s wife’s mail route in the home’s garbage.
An additional search warrant was executed at the VanZweden residence on November 28, 2017, resulting in the discovery of more stolen mail in the home’s garage. VanZweden admitted to burglarizing two residences on his wife’s mail route in Belmond, Iowa, citing a perceived sense of injustice and resentment towards the homeowners.
The case against VanZweden was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tim Vavricek and investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service. VanZweden was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams to three years’ probation.
The motive behind VanZweden’s actions remains unclear, but it is evident that he targeted specific individuals on his wife’s mail route, likely driven by a sense of resentment and perceived injustice. This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of mail security and the consequences of violating these security measures.
As the investigation revealed, VanZweden’s actions were not limited to simply possessing stolen mail; he also burglarized two residences on his wife’s mail route. The fact that he was able to get away with this for so long is a testament to the complexities of mail theft cases and the need for continued vigilance in these matters.
The case file number is 18-CR-3042, and the exact date of the crime was November 2017. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA for updates on this and other cases.
Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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