Tomlin Hooper, Stealing Mail, Connecticut 2022

Waterbury Man Admits Stealing Mail from Ellington Post Office Collection Box

A 23-year-old Waterbury man has admitted to stealing mail from a post office collection box in Ellington, Connecticut.

Tomlin Hooper, 23, of Waterbury, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to one count of attempted mail theft.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in February 2021, as part of a mail theft investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service installed a surveillance camera outside the Ellington Post Office to record activity at the mail collection box.

Hooper is captured on video accessing the mail collection box using a U.S. Postal Service Arrow Key, and stealing mail, some of which included checks, on four occasions between February 11 and March 22, 2021.

He was arrested in the early morning hours of March 29, 2021, as he attempted to steal mail from the mail collection box at the Ellington Post Office.

Hooper faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and has agreed to pay restitution of at least $23,632.34 as part of his plea agreement.

He is currently released on a $75,000 bond pending sentencing, scheduled for October 25, 2022.

Individuals who believe they are a victim of mail theft may file a complaint by calling 888-USPS-OIG or by visiting https://www.uspsoig.gov/form/file-online-complaint.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct/pr/waterbury-man-admits-stealing-mail-ellington-post-office-collection-box