Press Release from US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana 

GERONIMO A. CELLAMARE, age 46, a resident of Westwego, Louisiana, pled guilty in federal court today before U. S. District Judge Helen Berrigan to unlawfully detaining, delaying and opening United States mail, announced United States Attorney Jim Letten.

According to the factual basis, the defendant admitted that in September and October, 2008 he had detained and failed to deliver approximately 2950 pieces of First Class Mail, Second Class Mail, Presorted-Standard Political mail, Standard mail, and ADVO advertisement mail. All of the mail was found in his apartment on October 3, 2008 pursuant to the executio of a Federal Search Warrant by the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General.

CELLAMARE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five (5) years, a fine of $250,000.00 and three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. Judge Berrigan scheduled sentencing in this matter for July 8, 2009 at 9:00 A.M.

The case was investigated by the United States Postal Service-Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Marvin Opotowsky.