A former east Mesa postal worker now faces federal criminal charges for allegedly stealing the mail he was supposed to deliver.
Jacob Brannon, 34, worked postal routes out of the Mountain View Post Office at Lindsay Road and University Drive between September of 2014 and August of 2015.
He posted on Facebook about his job as a mailman. He seemed proud, but he is accused of violating the public's trust by swiping letters, cards and packages from his mail truck last summer.
A federal indictment, dated May 17, charges Brannon with 10 counts of stealing mail and 10 counts of being in possession of stolen mail.
The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General investigated the case. They say it began with a June 2015 report to the Mesa Police Department that said rifled mail was found in a public building. Inspector General Office investigators said they traced it back to Brannon.
Brannon's mother, Rebecca Brannon, told ABC15 that she was surprised when her son was hired by the post office. She tearfully explained that he had a history of drug abuse and numerous brushes with the law.
"He can't get out of the cesspool that he's in," Rebecca Brannon said. "I have tried and tried and tried."
She said she was not in regular contact with her son, and she was not aware of the federal case until now.
"I still love him," Rebecca Brannon said. "I just wish he would get help."
