Alabama man charged in federal indictment

BIRMINGHAM, AL -  MATTHEW DANIEL NIX, 27, of Quinton, Alabama, was charged in a 2-count indictment filed today at U. S. District Court in Birmingham. United States Attorney Alice H. Martin of the Northern District of Alabama and Frank Dyar, Postal Inspector/Domicile Coordinator, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, announce today that a federal grand jury has indicted NIX for unlawful possession of postal keys and mail theft.

        The indictment charges that, between June 22, 2008, and June 25, 2008, NIX unlawfully possessed Post Office keys, and that, on June 25, 2008, NIX stole mail from the Post Office in Sayre, Alabama.

        If convicted, NIX faces a maximum sentence of 10 years’ incarceration and a fine of $250,000 for unlawful possession of postal keys.  If convicted of mail theft, he faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

        “When a person has unlawful possession of the keys to a post office, all of the mail inside that post office is in danger.  My office stands ready to prosecute such cases to ensure the integrity of our postal system,” stated U.S. Attorney Alice H. Martin.

        This case was investigated by Inspectors with the United States Postal Inspection Service.  Assistant United States Attorney Melissa K. Atwood is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

        Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only charges.  A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.