PORTLAND, Maine — A United States Postal Service employee from Portland pleaded guilty Thursday to mail theft and now faces up to five years in prison.
Andrew Fossett, 45, pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court in Portland to "theft of mail by an officer or employee," according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Maine.
Fossett was reportedly seen on video surveillance "opening 128 envelopes, removing the contents from 12 envelopes, tearing up and throwing envelopes out of the postal vehicle 27 times," as well as opening two parcels, court records show.
A search of Fossett's backpack and personal vehicle produced two stolen gift cards and a stolen $5 scratch ticket, the release said.
He reportedly admitted to the conduct during an interview and now faces up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release, according to the release.
Fossett is expected to be sentenced after a presentence investigative report is completed by the U.S. Probation Office. The investigation of his case was conducted by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General.