United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

WOODSTOCK MAIL CARRIER PLEADS GUILTY TO OPENING MAIL

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SANDRA BOUTWELL, age 35, of 581 Riverside Drive, North Grosvenordale, Connecticut, pleaded guilty today to an Information charging her with unlawfully opening and detaining United States mail that had been entrusted to her for delivery to post offices in the Woodstock, Connecticut area. Senior United States District Judge Peter C. Dorsey accepted BOUTWELL's plea of guilty this morning in New Haven federal court.

According to remarks made by the Government in court today, BOUTWELL had been a contract carrier for the United States Postal Service, assigned to the route that included East and South Woodstock. On February 23, 2004, United States Postal Inspectors stopped BOUTWELL's vehicle after she had made her deliveries for the day. In the course of searching the vehicle the Inspectors found fourteen packages still in the vehicle, all of which should have been delivered by BOUTWELL. Two of the packages had been opened.

BOUTWELL faces a possible term of imprisonment of up to one year and a maximum fine of $100,000 when she is sentenced by Judge Dorsey on June 21, 2004. In addition to these potential penalties, BOUTWELL has agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $1,261.13 to a total of eighteen victims who live along BOUTWELL's delivery route and have filed claims of loss.

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John A. Danaher III.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov