A former New Jersey mail carrier has been charged by federal prosecutors after allegedly dumping 1,875 pieces of mail, including 99 general election ballots, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Nicholas Beauchene, 26, is charged with delay of mail and obstruction of mail. The Justice Department says he faces up to five and a half years in prison and a fine of up to $255,000 if convicted. A charge is an allegation, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Prosecutors allege that during his short time as a mail carrier, Beauchene threw mail into a dumpster in North Arlington and another in West Orange. According to the Justice Department, 98 of the ballots were found in the North Arlington dumpster and one turned up in West Orange. Officials said the mail was recovered and later delivered.
CNN reported that Beauchene started working for the U.S. Postal Service in July and that investigators believe he dumped mail on two separate occasions from two different routes.
The discovery was made by a North Arlington resident named Howard, who contacted authorities after he spotted the discarded mail while taking out his trash.
Beauchene made his first court appearance Wednesday afternoon at a federal courthouse in Newark, the Justice Department said. Baller Alert did not find a public response from Beauchene.
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