Suspect pleads guilty to mail theft

Charged with threeCharged with threecounts of mail theft,Charged with threecounts of mail theft,three of delaying mail The former United States postal employee who is allegedly responsible for many of the University's mail thefts pleaded guilty yesterday to three charges of mail theft and three charges of delaying mail, according to United States Postal Inspector Lou Recchilongo. Gerald Ricca, who was a postal clerk at the 30th Street Post Office, was arrested last February after he removed three letters from the mail stream, two of which were placed there as part of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Service. The letters were addressed to 3700 Spruce Street, the Quadrangle's address, and contained a total of $130. He was originally charged with only one count of mail theft, but additional counts were filed when Recchilongo sent additional evidence to the U.S. Attorney's Office in March. Ricca retired late last month after working with the Postal Service for 30 years. "The fact that the investigation was so complete influenced his desire to retire," Recchilongo said. He added that he fully expected the retired clerk to plead guilty yesterday and said he is "satisfied that Ricca is no longer a threat to the Postal Service and the mail -- especially the mail that goes to the University." Residential Services Director Nancy McCue, who has handled more than 1,400 University mail complaints since 1992, said she was also relieved that Ricca plead guilty. "It's gratifying to see the justice system at work," she said. "This solves a very large piece of the troubles we have with mail." But Recchilongo said he could not directly blame Ricca for all of the University's past mail problems. "I'm still investigating if he is definitely responsible [for the University's mail problems]," he said. Since Ricca's arrest, the number of reported complaints at the University has "greatly diminished," Recchilongo said. But the postal inspector has concluded that Ricca is probably responsible "for a great deal of" the University's mail problems. Residential Living Director Gigi Simeone said she understood that it is difficult to blame one person for all the reports filed at the University. "Whether each count can be traced to this University is not important," she said. "Seeing him plead guilty was extremely satisfying." Simeone and McCue added that they hope to play a role in Ricca's sentencing process. "We're interested to know what's going to happen in sentencing," McCue said. "I'm expecting that we'll have something to say being on the receiving end of the problem." Recchilongo said University officials will be given a chance to explain the difficulties and frustration they suffered. "It's my understanding that our role is to talk about what we have gone through," Simeone said. According to the U.S. Postal Code, the maximum sentence for each count of mail theft is five years in jail, a $2,000 fine or both. Although he is uncertain what Ricca's sentence will be, Recchilongo said he most likely will not get the maximum sentence, as he has no criminal record. "There are limits to what a judge can sentence you to," Recchilongo said. "But I don't know where Ricca ends up on that matrix." Ricca's sentencing hearing is scheduled for July.