ABINGDON, Va. – Federal prosecutors say a local mail carrier’s prescription drug problem may have led him to opening people’s mail in search of money and drugs.
Brian Keith Johnson, 36, of Bristol, Va., pleaded guilty on Thursday to three counts of removing mail entrusted to him to deliver and one count of unlawfully opening mail.
He could serve up to 20 years in jail for the crimes and be fined up to a $1 million. Sentencing is set for November.
“He said he had looked for and found certain drugs,” said Ronald Holcomb, an agent with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service who testified at Johnson’s hearing in Abingdon’s federal court.
Holcomb said the inspection service began receiving complaints from people living on Johnson’s Bristol, Va., route in early 2007. An investigation of Johnson was begun, and eventually video surveillance recorded him for a two-week period at the end of March, he said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Ramseyer said the video showed Johnson opening some of the mail he carried and removing items such as gift cards and cash.
Johnson was arrested on April 23, according to court documents, but was free on a personal recognizance bond until Thursday’s court appearance.
Initially, he was charged with one count of unlawfully opening mail and 11 counts of removal of mail, but Ramseyer dropped eight of the charges as part a plea agreement.
Ramseyer also presented evidence of a prescription drug problem and asked Judge James Jones to revoke Johnson’s bond and send him to jail.
Holcomb said his investigation yielded video of Johnson snorting prescription medication while working his route. He added that Johnson looked for packages containing medicine the Department of Veterans Affairs mailed to patients.
Angela Sullivan, Johnson’s probation officer, testified during the hearing that she found two empty Lortab bottles during an Aug. 5 inspection of his house.
She said they were from two different prescriptions, one Johnson had filled at Walgreens and another he picked up at an emergency room.
“We think it’s clear that Mr. Johnson has a prescription drug problem,” Ramseyer said, adding it could be a motive for Johnson’s crimes.
Johnson said he had been prescribed Lortab to help his leg and back problems, and he had taken a pill prior to the hearing.
Johnson’s attorney Joel Hoppe asked Jones to increase supervision of his client as part of the bond agreement so court officials could monitor his drug use more closely.
More oversight and a possible drug treatment program would be better for Johnson than revoking his bond and sending him to jail, Hoppe said.
Ramseyer objected, claiming drug treatment would be a waste of time because Johnson never acknowledged he may have a problem.
“There is a clear indication the defendant has and will continue to abuse prescription drugs,” said Jones, who agreed with Ramseyer and ordered that Johnson be taken into custody at the end of his hearing.
Johnson is currently being held at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 10.
gmclean@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2518
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