GERONIMO A. CELLAMARE, age 46, a resident of Westwego, Louisiana, pled guilty in federal court today before U. S. District Judge Helen Berrigan to unlawfully detaining, delaying and opening United States mail, announced United States Attorney Jim Letten.

According to the factual basis, the defendant admitted that in September and October, 2008 he had detained and failed to deliver approximately 2950 pieces of First Class Mail, Second Class Mail, Presorted-Standard Political mail, Standard mail, and ADVO advertisement mail. All of the mail was found in his apartment on October 3, 2008 pursuant to the executio of a Federal Search Warrant by the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General.

CELLAMARE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five (5) years, a fine of $250,000.00 and three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. Judge Berrigan scheduled sentencing in this matter for July 8, 2009 at 9:00 A.M.

The case was investigated by the United States Postal Service-Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Marvin Opotowsky.

Factual basis:

Should this matter have gone to trial, the Government would have proved, through the introduction of competent testimony and admissible tangible exhibits, the following facts, beyond a reasonable doubt, to support the allegations in the Bill of Information now pending against the defendant, GERONIMO A. CELLAMARE The defendant has agreed to plead guilty to Count One of a Bill of Information charging the defendant with a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1703(a) relative to felony delay of the United States mail.

On October 3, 2008, a search warrant was executed at the residency of the defendant, GERONIMO A. CELLAMARE, located in Westwego, Louisiana, in the Eastern District of Louisiana by United States Postal Inspectors. Upon searching the defendant’s apartment, the United States Postal Inspectors found 829 pieces of First Class mail, 57 pieces of Second Class mail, 921 pieces of Presorted-Standard Political mail, 732 pieces of Standard mail, and 412 pieces of ADVO advertisement mail. The mail was seized by postal inspectors and taken to their offices.

A supervisor for the United States Postal Services, Westwego Post Office, would testify that the defendant, GERONIMO A. CELLAMARE, was a United States Postal Service Transitional Employee city letter carrier during the months of September and October, 2008.

The supervisor would testify the addresses on the mail seized from the defendant’s apartment on October 3, 2008, was United States mail assigned to him for delivery and should have been delivered by the defendant on mail routes that he was assigned to during that period of time.

Additionally, the supervisor would state all of the mail found at his apartment was addressed to more than 250 individuals, organizations, or companies who should have received this mail. The supervisor would further state all of the United States mail described above was entrusted to GERONIMO A. CELLAMARE in his capacity as a United States Postal Service letter carrier
and it should have been conveyed and delivered to the addresses stated on the mail therein without any delay. The defendant was not authorized to detain or retain any United States mail in his personal possession for any reason.

An individual will testify that he/she confronted the defendant concerning his failure to deliver the mail described above and the defendant stated to him/her that he was tired and could not deliver all his mail so he brought the mail to his apartment.