SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – 3/01/21 – Priscilla Czyz, age 37, of Cato, New York, was sentenced today to 6 months of probation for obstructing the mail, announced Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi, United States Postal Service-Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG), Northeast Area Field Office.
In pleading guilty to the charge for which she was sentenced, Czyz admitted that between September 24, 2020, and October 7, 2020, she willfully failed to deliver mail entrusted to her by the United States Postal Service. Specifically, Czyz failed to deliver 354 pieces of political advertising mail to customers on her route in Onondaga County. Instead of delivering the mail, Czyz took it home, where law enforcement agents found it nearly two weeks later sitting in the rain on top of a dog crate in Czyz’s front yard. The mail was seized by the agents and later delivered by the Postal Service to the intended recipients. Prior to this offense, Czyz had been working as a postal carrier since approximately 2013. Czyz’s attorney informed the court prior to sentencing that Czyz lost her job at the Postal Service because of this conduct. As part of her sentence, Czyz was ordered to perform 50 hours of community service while on Probation.
This case was investigated by United States Postal Service-Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG) and the United States Postal Inspection Service, and it was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Perry.
See original DOJ charges below:
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – 1/8/21 – Priscilla Czyz, age 37, of Cato, New York, has been charged with obstructing the mail, announced Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi, United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG), Northeast Area Field Office.
Czyz was arraigned today in federal court in Syracuse by videoconference before United States Magistrate Judge Andrew T. Baxter. The charge against Czyz alleges that she obstructed the mail while working as a postal carrier by willfully failing to deliver mail entrusted to the United States Postal Service for delivery in Onondaga County, New York between September 24, 2020, and October 7, 2020. Czyz was released pending further proceedings.
The charge filed against Czyz carries a maximum sentence of 6 months in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The charge filed against Czyz is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by USPS-OIG, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Perry.
