Two individuals previously employed as clerks at the West Berkeley post office (USPS) in California have received sentences for their involvement in a scheme to divert cannabis-filled packages from the mail. A third individual implicated in the case is set to receive their sentence in August.
The trio pleaded guilty as part of agreements with federal prosecutors after being charged in July 2023. They were involved in the illicit removal and sale of cannabis packages, a direct violation of federal law which prohibits the mailing of cannabis.
Gloria E. Navarro, in her plea agreement, admitted to a single charge of conspiracy to commit mail theft. She was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín to two years of probation and 50 hours of community service, with an additional mail theft charge dismissed, as per court documents.
Navarro was placed in a new, demanding role at the post office, one she had not been trained for, where she worked extended shifts without breaks or days off due to severe staffing shortages, her defense outlined in a sentencing memo.
Her mental health deteriorated significantly following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbating her stress and sense of isolation. Despite these challenges, Navarro committed the crime, for which she has expressed deep remorse and regret, her defenders stated.
Jessica K. Pardo-Alvarez received a similar sentence on July 8, also pleading guilty to conspiracy with another mail theft charge being dismissed.
Pardo-Alvarez’s involvement was described by her attorney as a severe error in judgment during a period of significant personal stress, highlighting her otherwise compliant behavior with the law. She has acknowledged her wrongdoing fully, her attorney noted.
Norman Beltran is also set to plead guilty to conspiracy, with a mail theft charge expected to be dismissed at his upcoming August sentencing. Probation has been recommended for him as well.
Beltran’s criminal actions were driven by a dependency on drugs, as he was struggling with disability and unemployment, his attorney explained in a sentencing document. His involvement in the thefts was not for profit but was a means to sustain his drug habit. Now in recovery and regularly tested for drugs, Beltran feels a profound sense of remorse for his actions, his attorney added.
Details on the plea agreements for all defendants remain undisclosed.
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