Mail Carrier Fuller Gets a Year for Theft & Cocaine

NEW HAVEN, CT – Shawn R. Fuller, 37, of West Haven, is headed to federal prison after a brazen scheme of mail theft escalated into a drug bust. Fuller was sentenced today to 12 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to theft of mail by a postal employee. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven.

The case began to unravel on April 17, 2023, when investigators observed Fuller, then a mail carrier in Meriden, actively opening mail packages at the Meriden post office. He wasn’t looking for lost checks or misplaced letters; he was pilfering contents, brazenly removing items and stashing them in the trunk of his vehicle. Fuller then abruptly clocked out, claiming he had to leave for the day.

A routine traffic stop by Hamden Police quickly turned up more than just stolen goods. A police K9 unit alerted officers to the presence of narcotics, leading to a search of Fuller’s trunk. What they found wasn’t a few pilfered gift cards – it was approximately four kilograms of a substance later confirmed to contain cocaine. Fuller was immediately arrested.

“This defendant violated the public trust placed in him as a U.S. Postal Service employee,” stated Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut. “His actions not only compromised the integrity of the mail system but also introduced dangerous narcotics into our communities.” Fuller had been released on a $100,000 bond and is now required to report to prison on August 20.

The investigation was a collaborative effort spearheaded by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Support came from the Hamden and West Haven Police Departments, as well as a multi-agency task force including members of the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, the Connecticut Army National Guard, and several local police departments.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Dearington and Brendan J. Keefe prosecuted the case, bringing Fuller to justice for his dual crimes. This case serves as a stark reminder that those entrusted with public service will be held accountable for betraying that trust, especially when it involves criminal activity like theft and drug trafficking. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.