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A federal grand jury in Wichita has indicted a Kansas postal worker accused of taking thousands of pieces of mail meant for homes around Pittsburg and keeping them in her garage, including nearly 400 political mailers that were all tied to Republican candidates or Republican-affiliated political action committees.
Kelly R. Cram, 59, of Baxter Springs, was indicted on Tuesday, November 3, on one count of unlawful secretion, destruction and delay of mail, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Kansas said. Prosecutors say that beginning in October 2026, Cram took 4,404 pieces of mail intended for delivery to customers in and around Pittsburg and stored them at her home.
Among the mail recovered from her garage, prosecutors said, were nearly 400 political mailers solely related to Republican candidates or Republican-affiliated political action committees. Agents found no mailers related to candidates of any other political party at her residence, the Justice Department said.
The indictment was returned on Election Day, as Kansas voters were casting ballots in the midterm elections. Cram worked as a rural route carrier at the post office in Pittsburg and had been with the Postal Service since 2009, according to prosecutors. She was placed on administrative leave on October 7, 2026.
The case carries a twist highlighted in local reporting: the Kansas Informer reported that the Cherokee County Clerk's office confirmed Cram registered as a Republican on November 6, 2012. Federal prosecutors have not publicly established a political motive, and the presence of Republican campaign material alone does not prove the mail was targeted because of political affiliation.
The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General is investigating the case. Cram is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in federal court.