Georgia Man Convicted of Hate Crime Attack on Postal Carrier
A federal jury has delivered a guilty verdict against a Georgia man for perpetrating a hate crime attack against a United States Postal Service (USPS) employee. William Charles Franklin was found guilty after a two-day trial, concluding a case that involved racist slurs, physical threats, and ultimately, the damaging of the carrier’s vehicle with a tractor. The Justice Department formally announced the conviction, emphasizing the severity of Franklin’s actions and the unwavering commitment to protecting federal employees from hate-motivated violence.
The case originated in 2024 following a complaint received by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) concerning Franklin’s behavior toward the postal carrier. The complaint detailed potential threats and obstruction, prompting an investigation into the matter. While neither the Justice Department nor the USPIS publicly identified the carrier or disclosed the carrier’s race, the evidence presented during the trial clearly established that racial animus fueled Franklin’s actions.
The evidence against Franklin included a recording of a confrontation between him and the carrier on June 11, 2024. This confrontation arose from a dispute over the positioning of the carrier’s USPS vehicle. During the recorded exchange, Franklin repeatedly directed racial slurs at the letter carrier, asserting his actions were protected by free speech. The letter carrier, attempting to de-escalate the situation, stated that if he were not on duty, Franklin’s words and threats would have led to a physical altercation. The carrier refrained from engaging in a fight, citing concerns about jeopardizing his employment.
According to prosecutors, Franklin escalated his verbal attacks, using increasingly offensive and explicitly racist slurs targeting the carrier and the community where he lived. He then threatened to physically assault the carrier, expressing intentions to punch him, run him over with his tractor, and even involve a third party to drag the carrier away with a rope. This escalation demonstrated a clear and dangerous intent to harm and intimidate the postal worker.
Further corroboration of Franklin’s threats came from an unnamed family member who confirmed receiving a call from Franklin requesting a rope. This testimony added weight to the prosecution’s case, substantiating the severity and premeditation of Franklin’s threats.
The situation took a dangerous turn on December 3 when Franklin acted on his threats, using his green tractor to ram into the carrier’s vehicle. The postal employee reported to the USPIS and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office that he had pulled over to allow the tractor to pass, but instead, the driver intentionally collided with his vehicle. The impact resulted in the destruction of a nearby stop sign. Franklin then fled the scene. The tractor involved in the incident was registered to Franklin, solidifying his connection to the crime. Furthermore, witnesses reported seeing a vehicle registered to Franklin’s wife arrive at the scene immediately after the incident, traveling at a high rate of speed.
The culmination of these incidents led to the execution of search and arrest warrants for Franklin in December. During the search, law enforcement officials discovered two AR-15 style rifles in his truck and a loaded pistol on his person. Critically, authorities also found a photograph of the postal employee on Franklin’s phone, alongside additional evidence indicating that the crimes were motivated by the employee’s race. These findings were crucial in establishing the hate crime component of the charges.
Based on the evidence presented, the jury found Franklin guilty on multiple counts, including obstructing the mail, assault of a federal officer, aggravated assault of a federal officer, and retaliating against a witness. He was also found guilty of hate crime enhancements on the two federal officer assault charges and retaliating against a witness. Franklin is scheduled to be sentenced on June 5. He faces a maximum sentence of six months for obstructing mail and a maximum of 20 years for the remaining crimes.
- Shanelle Booker, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, issued a statement following the conviction, underscoring the zero-tolerance policy for violent, hate-filled attacks against federal employees and residents of the Middle District of Georgia.
Jessica L. Wagner, Acting Inspector in Charge of the United States Postal Inspection Service, Atlanta Division, emphasized the core mission of ensuring the safety and security of postal employees. She stated that the Postal Inspection Service is dedicated to protecting postal workers from harm and bringing perpetrators to justice.
Franklin’s attack on the postal carrier is part of a disturbing trend of crimes targeting postal employees. Last March, the USPIS reported a significant increase in arrests for carrier robberies, with a 73% rise compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year. This increase is attributed to the intensified efforts of the Postal Inspection Service and their federal and local law enforcement partners in aggressively pursuing individuals who rob letter carriers and steal mail. Since May 2023, the Postal Inspection Service has made over 1,200 arrests for letter carrier robberies and mail theft nationwide.
In a similar case, a Michigan man was found guilty of assault in February for attacking a postal worker because of her race. Russell Valleau was convicted of assaulting a federal employee after becoming enraged by receiving mail from Kamala Harris’s campaign in his mailbox, addressed to a Black person. The carrier, a Black woman, attempted to diffuse the situation, but Valleau attempted to attack her through the passenger window. Upon arrest, Valleau repeatedly used racial slurs against the carrier, even after being warned by police. He still faces additional charges in Michigan for ethnic intimidation and misdemeanor assault and battery.
Another incident occurred in January when a woman was arrested for fatally stabbing a postal employee inside a Harlem deli. The employee, Ray Hodges, was reportedly ordering a sandwich when an argument ensued with Jaia Cruz over who was first in line. New York City Police arrested Cruz for first-degree murder in connection with the incident.
These cases highlight the inherent risks faced by postal employees in their daily routines and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. The conviction of William Charles Franklin sends a clear message that hate-motivated violence against federal employees will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
