A federal jury convicted a Springfield man Aug. 15 on three charges of possessing and receiving stolen mail. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Kenshaun Thompson, 26, participated in a conspiracy to steal mail on several occasions in October 2023. Thompson’s co-conspirator, Adam Bekele, 33, of Annandale, accessed several mailboxes including the mailbox at the West Springfield Post Office on Rolling Road and took the mail from the box into a vehicle. On multiple occasions, and specifically on Oct. 24, 25, and 26, 2023, Bekele transported the stolen mail to an apartment in Falls Church where he transferred it to Thompson, who knew when he received the mail that it had been stolen. On Feb. 22, Bekele pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail theft. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison when he is sentenced on Oct. 3. Thompson faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, five years for each count of receiving stolen mail. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 5. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. |