Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that STEVEN KNOX, 45, of New Britain, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to theft government property.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in the early morning hours of May 19, 2021, the tire shed at a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) vehicle maintenance facility in Hartford was burglarized and approximately 43 tires were stolen. The facility’s surveillance video showed a pickup truck pulling up to the tire shed at approximately 1:30 a.m. Knox and another individual then broke into the shed, loaded tires into the bed of pickup, and then drove off. Knox was formerly employed by a USPS towing contractor and possessed a key card to access the vehicle maintenance facility’s gate. Knox then sold the stolen tires, which had a value of approximately $3,836, to a tire shop in New Britain for $1,500.
Knox was arrested on June 8, 2021.
Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for January 27, 2022, at which time Knox faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. Knox is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing.
This investigation has been conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with the assistance of the New Britain Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Gresham.
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