Mail-pilfering postal worker gets house arrest, probation

A former Aiken County postal worker has been handed a two-year sentence for stealing from the U.S. Postal Service.

Denise Larae Key, 44, of New Ellenton, pleaded guilty in 2008 and was sentenced last week to six months of house arrest and two years of probation by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret B. Seymour.

She was sentenced on the charge of theft of mail by a postal employee.

Key, a longtime postal worker, was indicted just more than a year ago and, at the time, openly proclaimed her innocence.

The indictment charges that in November 2006, Key embezzled items contained within the mail that she was entrusted to handle, according to prosecutors with the U.S. attorney's office.

Court documents state that from November 2006 through November 2007, Key routinely opened mail and took out checks, money orders, cash and gift cards.

After being confronted by federal agents, she stated she could not remember how many pieces of mail she opened or threw away because there were too many to recollect.

As for the gift cards, she then either used them or gave them to a relative. She was caught after numerous mail customers reported the loss of money, gift cards and greeting cards and receiving opened mail.

Key was identified as the employee pilfering the mail during a sting operation conducted at the New Ellenton post office in November 2007.

During the operation, she was observed on tape opening a previously planted pink greeting card. The $10 Target gift card that was enclosed was later used by her relative, as confirmed by store records. According to Key, the relative did not know the source of the gift cards.