Wichita truck driver for post office pleads guilty to stealing mail

A former contract truck driver for the post office in Rose Hill, Kansas, pleaded guilty Tuesday to stealing items from the mail, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.

Manuel De La Cruz, 30, Wichita, Kansas, pleaded guilty to three counts of stealing items from the mail.

In his plea, he pleaded guilty to stealing more than $6,500 worth of items from the mail. Stolen items included a Lenova laptop computer, an upper receiver for an AR 15 rifle, an AR 15 rifle barrel and a gas block for an AR 15.

Sentencing is set for April 29. He faces a penalty of up to five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.

McAllister commended the U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger for their work on the case.