New details from federal investigators after 2 postal carriers charged with tossing out mail

PITTSBURGH — We’re learning new details from federal investigators after two postal workers were accused of tossing out mail.

In one incident, mail was found in a garbage can at Persad Center on Butler Street in Lawrenceville. The interim executive director told Channel 11 he acted quickly after the mail was found in the trash can.

Security cameras captured James McLenigan, 29, throwing the mail in the garbage. Federal investigators said they recovered 75 items of First Class Mail and 25 pieces of campaign mail. There were no mail-in ballots in the pile, but they did recover an application for a ballot.

Investigators said McLenigan admitted to throwing the mail away into various trash cans along his mail route.

Another U.S. Postal Service employee was put on unpaid leave after bags of undelivered mail were found on the curb for trash pickup outside a home in Baldwin.

Special Agent Scott Balfour of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General said agents were going through the recovered mail so it could eventually be delivered.

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Agents went to the home of Sean Troesh, 48, and questioned him after a report was made that he was seen dumping mail from the back of his vehicle into trash bags. Nine bags were put at the curb in front of his home and when agents asked him about it, Troesh admitted to dumping the mail. The bags contained 314 items of First Class Mail, seven items of Certified Mail, one item of Priority Mail and 1,311 pieces of campaign mail or political advertisements. There were no mail-in ballots.

Both men face a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both.

A special agent told Channel 11 these types of cases are very rare.

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