BOISE -- A retired U.S. postal inspector has admitted in federal court that he sent nonmailable items through the mail and used government mailing labels to send dozens of parcels to avoid payment of postage.
Gregory P. Staisiunas, 50, enter his guilty plea in a Boise courtroom this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mikel H. Williams to two counts of mailing injurious articles and five counts of misuse of penalty mail labels.
The first two offenses are misdemeanors and the last five are petty infractions under federal law.
Staisiunas worked in San Francisco and admitted that shortly before retiring in the summer of 2009 he mailed 64 parcels with personal property and effects to Boise, where he had purchased a home.
Staisiunas sent the parcels via registered mail using “Penalty Cover” labels indicating first-class mail postage and fees paid.
Staisiunas admitted that he knew that “Penalty Cover” labels may only be used for official government mail, and that the packages and other parcels he sent each contained personal items, including golf clubs, a microwave oven, food, clothing, kitchen supplies and other personal items that he was not entitled to send through the mail without paying postage.
Staisiunas also admitted sending liquor and ammunition through the mail, which he knew are nonmailable.
Judge Williams ordered Staisiunas to pay $2,504 in restitution for the unpaid postage, and a fine of $13,944.57, which is the amount equal to the costs of the investigation.
Staisiunas must also perform 200 hours of community service. He will be on probation for two years.
“Law enforcement officers are sworn to enforce the law. They have many rights that normal citizens do not have, and when they break the law they are betraying the trust the public has put in them. These were financial crimes, and the punishment fits the crime,” said U.S. Attorney Tom Moss.
