Two men were arrested on Wednesday after they were accused of stealing mail from United States Postal Service collection boxes in Marion County.
Earlier today, United States Middle District of Florida Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the filing of a complaint and arrest of 23-year-old Jordan Jax and 23-year-old Tarod Goodman. Both Jax and Goodman have been charged with theft of mail and possession of a stolen or reproduced postal key.
If convicted, Jax and Goodman each face up to 5 years in federal prison for theft of mail and up to 10 years’ imprisonment for possession of the postal key.
According to court records, between October 2022 and January 24, 2023, Jax and Goodman allegedly used a postal key on multiple occasions to access USPS collection boxes in Marion County and steal mail.
Court records further state that Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies and a U.S. Postal Inspector conducted surveillance, and they observed Jax and Goodman loading mail into Jax’s vehicle. Both suspects were arrested by MCSO, and agents recovered a postal key that had been used to open the collection boxes.
A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and its Aviation Unit, as well as the United States Postal Inspection Service. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.