March 27, 2008

TWO SENTENCED FOR CONSPIRACY TO POSSESS STOLEN MAIL

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Bonnie Barrows 47, of Turners Falls, Massachusetts, and Eric Graves, 29, Greenfield, Massachusetts, were sentenced on March 25, 2008 by the U.S. District Court Judge J. Garvan Murtha for their roles in a conspiracy to possess stolen mail. Barrows was sentenced to two-year probations. Graves, who had a lengthy criminal record, was sentenced to 10 months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. Full restitution of nearly $700 was also ordered. Each defendant was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.

According to Court documents, in October, 2006, Graves and Barrows conspired with each other to use a credit card which had been stolen from the mail in Dummerston, Vermont.. Between October 20 and 24, 2006, they used the stolen card to make numerous purchases in Vermont and New Hampshire, including at Burger King, EBGames, and WalMart. On several occasions, they were recorded making their purchases by the store's video cameras. In addition to the stolen credit card, Postal Inspectors also recovered from Graves and Barrows mail that was stolen from more than 50 other postal customers in Vermont and New Hampshire.

United States Attorney Thomas D. Anderson thanked the United States Postal Inspection Service, which investigated the case. Barrows was represented by Michael Straub, Esq. Graves was represented by John Mabie, Esq. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth C. Woodcock prosecuted the case for the United States.