Crime & Safety

Mail Carrier Pleads Not Guilty To Tossing Mail

A Postal Service spokeswoman says it's unclear if or when the affected mail would be delivered.

U.S. Postal Service temporary mail carrier Matteo Morelli pleaded not guilty in Federal Court in Providence Tuesday of delaying or destroying mail.

Morelli, 34, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia A Sullivan. In a touch of irony, the courtroom was one of those federal courtrooms housed in the Post Office building on Kennedy Plaza.

Morelli was released on $10,000 secured bond and was required to hand over his passport and remain in Rhode Island pending trial, which was set to take place on or before Oct. 29. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison.

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In explaining why he supported Morelli's release on bond, Asst. U.S. Attorney Richard Rose said while the "weight of the evidence is strong," Morelli does not have a prior record and has strong ties to the area.

Judge Sullivan agreed to appoint public defender Olin Thompson to serve as Morelli's lawyer. Whether or not Morelli would need to contribute something to the cost of counsel was left to be determined.

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A federal grand jury indicted Morelli of Warwick last week on one count of delaying or destroying mail as a postal employee. The mail was addressed to residents and businesses in East Greenwich and North Kingstown.

The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General began investigating reports of mail dumping by a letter carrier in June, after East Greenwich residents and at least one EG business owner complained about not receiving mail.

Postal Service investigators interviewed Morelli and later found more than 1,000 pieces of mail discarded in a garbage receptacle behind a Warwick school.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Postal Service said it was unclear when or if the undelivered mail would be delivered.

“When there is an investigation, it can include a lot of different types of items. They may be retained as necessary for investigation, for trial. It can be a very complex issue. It’s out of our hands completely because it’s a law enforcement issue,” said Maureen Marion.

She said Morelli was hired as a temporary mail carrier in December 2012.

“We the postal service are a victim, just like the individuals are,” argued Marion. “That’s what makes it so challenging for us. Everybody’s a victim here, including the Postal Service. Certainly this is not the service we want to provide in any way shape or form.”



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