January 12, 2017
Two United States postal workers were accused Thursday of using their West Philadelphia mail routes to distribute large quantities of marijuana, federal prosecutors said.
Steven C. Williams, 42, and Felicia Charleston, 35, were both charged with distributing at least 100 kilograms of marijuana in a conspiracy involving seven members of drug organizations, Acting United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen announced.
Authorities said Williams and Charleston were postal carriers at the West Market Post Office located in the Walnut Hill section of the city.
Separately, the pair would divert packages containing marijuana to their co-conspirators, identified as 49-year-old Chester Wynter, 44-year-old Barrington Russell, 44-year-old Damion Parkes, 38-year-old Patrick Purrier, 32-year-old Gillion Watson, 32-year-old Marvia Shirley, and 27-year-old Anthony Washington, who would later sell the drug.
Eight of the accused face life imprisonment if convicted while Purrier faces a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General urges anyone who suspects criminal activity or serious misconduct by postal employees to report the matter to (888) USPS-OIG (888-877-7644) or on its website.
