Albuquerque man gets probation for mail theft

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — An Albuquerque man will be confined to home for the next eight months as part of his sentence for stealing mail.
Federal prosecutors say 33-year-old Eric Powell was sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court on a charge of theft or receipt of stolen mail. He also will be on probation for five years.
He was accused of causing his victims more than $13,000 in financial losses. Court documents say he had mail from more than 1,300 people.
In pleading guilty, Powell admitted stealing from numerous mailboxes in Albuquerque using a counterfeit U.S. Postal Service key.
He also admitted to buying various items with credit and debit cards, checks and gift cards he obtained from the stolen mail.