From staff reports OKLAHOMA CITY – A federal jury has convicted an Oklahoma City resident of conspiring with a Norman man to commit mail theft, possession of stolen mail, and witness tampering.
A federal grand jury last October returned a four-count indictment against Donald Eugene Cooks, 49, charging him with conspiracy to commit mail theft, two counts of being in possession of stolen mail, and witness tampering.
On March 28, after a three-day trial, a federal jury found Cooks guilty on all counts.
According to evidence presented at trial, in July 2022 Cooks and co-defendant Irvin Herbert Sawyer, 40, of Norman, conspired together to steal mail from an Oklahoma City Post Office. At the time, Sawyer was employed as a rural carrier associate and knew the Post Office access code, which he shared with Cooks.
The jury heard testimony that on July 19, 2022, on at le ast two occasions, Cooks entered the post off ice after hours using the code given to him by Sawyer.
On the f irst occasion he successfully stole mail, which he took back to his motel room.
Returning for more, Cooks and another person attempted to steal a large amount of mail, which they loaded into the bed of Cooks’ truck. However, while still loading the mail, the alarm was tripped and the Oklahoma City police arrived before the mail could be taken from the parking lot. Cooks fled the scene but was soon detained and arrested.
The investigation quickly led to Cooks’ motel, where Oklahoma City police found several items of stolen mail in his room and empty mail packaging in the dumpster.
The jury heard further testimony that in July 2023, while in jail, Cooks had a message passed to a government witness that attempted to intimidate the witness and keep that person from testifying at trial.
Cooks faces up to 35 years in federal prison and fines totaling up to $1 million. Sentencing will be set in approximately 90 days.
Sawyer pleaded guilty on July 18, 2023, to conspiring with Cooks to commit mail theft. Sawyer faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Oklahoma City Police Department.