EAGLE ROCK, Mo. -- It's a story that sounds like a Hollywood screenplay -- a postmaster accused of hatching an elaborate robbery scheme in a small Ozarks town. According to the FBI, 49-year-old Michael Stubblefield and others concocted a plan that involved fire, a convenience store take-over, and the United States Postal Service.
Eagle Rock, Missouri is a small Ozarks town near Table Rock Lake. Like many small towns, the post office serves as a local meeting point. To the FBI, the Eagle Rock Post Office was the center of an elaborate scheme at the hands of its postmaster, Michael Stubblefield.
According to court documents, Stubblefield enlisted two people to stage a robbery at Uncle Roy's Convenience Store. One was an employee of the store, who told police he provided information about cameras, closing operations, schedules, and other details to Stubblefield. Those who know Stubblefield can't believe the accusations.
"He was a great guy I thought and a lot of other people thought too," said Monte Logan, a friend. "I'm really surprised. Lot of us don't even believe it even happened. So it's just, I mean, kind of guilty until proven innocent."
The two people Stubblefield allegedly conspired with went to the Barry County Sheriff's Office and told investigators about the plan. While there, they spoke about other illegal activities they believed Stubblefield was involved with including drug trafficking. They also accused the postmaster and a UPS employee of a scheme to steal valuable items, such as jewelry, from the mail. The informants told police the UPS employee would alert Stubblefield when she had packages of value. They explained Stubblefield would receive the items, repackage it in USPS packaging, and store it in another location.
Postmaster of Ozark town charged in elaborate conspiracy scheme
FBI investigators believe Michael Stubblefield concocted a plan that involved fire, a store take-over, and the United States Postal Service
The co-conspirators spoke about a shipment of watches and later showed investigators five pocket watches in USPS packaging.
"Very surprising. Yeah, very surprising," said Joshua Fraine, a local contractor. "A guy in that kind of position being the postmaster and everything."
The informants agreed to wear a wire and record Stubblefield. In two separate occasions, police heard the plot against the convenience store unfold. The informant was fired from the store. Police said the "staged robbery" transformed into a "take-over." The meetings to discuss the details occurred at the post office and a restaurant. After investigators compiled tapes, federal agents became involved.
According to the FBI, the master plan was to set a tire on fire so police would respond to an apparent crash some distance away from the store. Court documents indicate the informants and two others would take over the store and stash the money and other items in a mailbox only Stubblefield had access to. The plan never came to fruition though because the postmaster was arrested before the robbery could take place.
"I don't know, it's kind of strange to me," Logan said of the details in the documents.
"It definitely doesn't make me feel safe whenever using the mail. That's for sure," said Fraine.
As he awaits his trial, Stubblefield is replaced as postmaster. His next hearing in federal court is scheduled for September. Stubblefield has been released on his own recognizance but Eagle Rock residents said they haven't seen him since he was indicted.
