2 sentenced in mail theft investigation

From Staff Reports

Two people arrested in a postal investigation case involving the Slaton Police Department have been sentenced to a combined seven years and 10 months in a federal prison.

Jessica Solomon, 35, and Joe Rivas III, 22, were indicted Oct. 13 on a count of conspiracy to possess stolen mail and eight counts of possession of stolen mail.

Rivas pleaded guilty in December 2021 to conspiracy to possess stolen mail and was sentenced earlier in April to 57 months in federal prison.

Solomon pleaded guilty to the same charges and was sentenced April 21 to 37 months in federal prison.

More than 8,000 pieces of mail were stolen and were valued at more than $4 million.

According to a press release from the United States Northern District of Texas Attorney’s Office, the amount is the largest ever seizure of stolen mail in Northern District of Texas’ history.

For more information, please read the Thursday edition of The Slatonite.