KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar BluffFederal investigation underway after bundle of mail found in Diversion Channel

Federal investigation underway after bundle of mail found in Diversion Channel

By Kathy Sweeney - bio | email

CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY, MO (KFVS) - A federal investigation is underway after a fisherman and his son walking along the banks of the Diversion Channel found mail dumped, not delivered, in Cape Girardeau County.

They were near Allenville and found what they thought was a pile of dumped trash, but when they looked closer they realized it was stacks of undelivered mail neatly bundled together.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Ferrell, chief of the criminal division, they are currently conducting a federal investigation.

At least 600 to 1000 pieces of mail were found affecting residents in Sikeston, Dexter, Kennett, New Madrid, Hayti, Caruthersville, and Jackson.

The fisherman who found the mail says it's difficult to reach the remote location by car, especially when it's muddy. So, whoever dumped the mail apparently didn't make the delivery by accident.

The man tells Heartland News all the mail looked to be dated in early November.

He took all this mail to the postmaster in Gordonville, who sent it on to the office of the Inspector General in Kansas City, Kansas.

But, how would mail heading to four different communities all end up in one spot?  Mail sent to southeast Missouri starts at the processing center in Cape Girardeau. There, its sorted and bundled, then carried by contract drivers to the individual towns for delivery.

Those drivers, known as highway contract route employees, do not officially work for the postal service. But, whether an HCR driver or a postal carrier did the dumping, tampering with mail is a federal crime and this surprising find is now at the center of an O.I.G. investigation.

O.I.G. spokesman John Masters says if your mail got dumped, you will be contacted by mail about it.

Masters says his office will let you know that you've had so many pieces of mail sent to the O.I.G. as part of an ongoing investigation.

It will be up to you to let your creditors know if you're missing a bill.

Masters calls mail dumping "very rare" and say his office is taking the investigation seriously.

Masters says it could take weeks or months before the investigation is complete.

No charges have been filed in this case.

The U.S. Postal Service hopes to notify all those affected by December 31.

Copyright 2009 KFVS. All rights reserved.