The Department of Justice filed criminal charges on Tuesday against a New Jersey mailman who allegedly threw away mail that included ballots in two dumpsters.
Nicholas Beauchene was charged with mail delay and mail obstruction for “knowingly and willingly obstruct[ing] … the passage of the mail.” Beauchene could face up to “5 1/2 years in prison and a $255,000 fine,” according to the complaint.
Beauchene started working for the U.S. Postal Service in July as a city carrier assistant at the Orange, New Jersey, post office. According to the court filing, more than 1,800 pieces of mail were recovered from two dumpsters.
North Arlington resident Howard Dinger told CNN that he found mail in a dumpster wrapped in rubber bands on Friday when he was throwing out his trash. That mail contained 98 general election ballots that were supposed to be delivered to voters. That dumpster is approximately one mile from Beauchene’s residence, the court filing said. Mail found in the second dumpster contained one ballot.
According to the DOJ, all of the mail has been delivered. Beauchene will have his first court appearance Wednesday afternoon at a federal court in Newark.
