BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - A postal worker from Western New York is charged with stealing more than 800 pieces of mail, including some absentee ballots for the 2020 election.
Brandon Wilson was arrested on Tuesday night after trying to cross the Peace Bridge into Canada. The US Attorney's Office in Buffalo said that during a vehicle sweep, Wilson opened the trunk of his car for the officers at the border. Inside his vehicle included his USPS uniform, an ID badge, and 813 pieces of mail.
There were three absentee ballots sent to two different addresses among the 813 pieces of mail. Wilson, 27, told officers he intended to deliver the mail and forgot to return the mail pieces to the post office.
Other stolen mail included political mailers, first class mailings, and standard mailings. The majority of the mail was intended for homes in the zip code 14215. Other zip codes where the mail was intended for were 14227, 14211, and 14214.
Wilson was charged with delay or destruction of mail and faces five years in prison plus a $250,000 fine.
"This Office is committed not only to ensuring the integrity of the mails but also of individuals' rights to vote in a free and fair election," U.S. Attorney JP Kennedy said in a statement. "The criminal conduct with which this defendant is alleged to have engaged, undermined both of those interests."
The USPS Office of Inspector General issued this statement:
On November 5th, 2020, United States Postal Service employee Brandon Wilson was arrested by Special Agents of the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General (USPS OIG), and charged by Federal Criminal Complaint in the Western District of New York, with violation of Title 18, United States Code 1703, Delay or Obstruction of Mail. The United States Postal Service is in the process of placing Wilson on "Emergency Placement".
The vast majority of the United States Postal Service's over 630,000 employees are committed to ensuring the sanctity of the United States Mail.
To report crimes or serious misconduct by USPS employees, contact www.uspsoig.gov or 888-USPS-OIG
