Rusk County man sentenced for postal crime spree

RUSK COUNTY — A Henderson man has been sentenced to federal prison. Paul Wayne Kennedy, 39, pleaded guilty on April 19, 2021, to burglary of a United States Post Office, possession of stolen mail, possession of stolen money orders, damage to government property, theft of government property, and access device fraud. Kennedy was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison Tuesday. According to information presented in court, between the afternoon of Dec. 23, 2019 and the morning of Dec. 26, 2019, Kennedy burglarized post offices in Price, Bronson, Bon Wier  and Evans, Louisiana and attempted to burglarize post offices in Newton, Texas, and Singer, Louisiana. At each location he burglarized, Kennedy stole mail, packages, and property belonging to the U.S. Postal Service.

At the Price and Bronso post offices, Kennedy was able to gain access to the safes and steal money and U.S. money orders. His accomplice, Angela Moore, 37, of Longview, accompanied Kennedy during the Price burglary and the Newton attempted burglary. Later, on Dec. 27, 2019, Kennedy attempted to use a debit card that he stole during the Evans burglary at the Margaritaville Casino in Shreveport, Louisiana. Moore pleaded guilty to possession of stolen mail and was sentenced to 6 months in federal prison on May 13, 2021.