South Berwick postal worker faces up to five years in prison for stealing gift cards

According to court records, between January and May 2023, Russell Joaquin, 48, opened and stole the contents of greeting cards from his postal route. (Courtesy photo)

PORTLAND, Maine - A South Berwick man pleaded guilty on Monday in U.S. District Court in Portland to theft of mail by a postal carrier.

According to court records, between January and May 2023, Russell Joaquin, 48, opened and stole the contents of greeting cards from his postal route. Joaquin was interviewed by investigators from the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and admitted to stealing greeting cards from his mail routes in South Berwick and Eliot to take the cash and gift cards they contained.

He faces up to five years in prison, a fine up to $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release. Joaquin will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General investigated the case with assistance from the Berwick Police Department.