Man pleads guilty to stealing mail

ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - A 45-year-old Albuquerque man has pleaded guilty in federal court to a mail theft charge.

Cedric Lara entered his plea last week before U.S. Magistrate Richard Puglisi under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office.

No sentencing date has been set. He faces up to five years in prison.

Lara also is to pay restitution.

A federal grand jury that indicted Lara last December accused him of stealing gift cards that had been placed in the mail on three different occasions between Sept. 23, 2008, and Oct. 19, 2008.

At the time, Lara was a contract driver for the U.S. Postal Service.