BOISE – Guy K. Dunne, 45, of Caldwell, Idaho, pled guilty today in United States District Court in Boise to count one of an information charging him with theft of mail matter by an officer or employee, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.

According to the plea agreement, Dunne was employed as a city carrier by the U.S. Postal Service from December 1997 to April 2011. Between January 21 and February 12, 2010, the Caldwell Post Office determined that several U.S. Veterans Administration (VA) medication packages were missing from the post office. In April 2010, video surveillance conducted by special agents of the Postal Service Office of Inspector General observed Dunne removing a VA medication package from a delivery cart and placing it under mail he was already carrying. Dunne was subsequently interviewed and admitted to the theft. According to the plea agreement, Dunne stole the medications to sustain his hydrocodone addiction. Dunne admitted that over the prior year, he had stolen an estimated 20 to 40 VA medication packages. The Postal Service identified missing packages intended for 29 recipients and Dunne has agreed to pay restitution for those packages.

The charge carries a maximum punishment of up to five years in prison, a fine up to $250,000, and up to three years supervised release.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 9, 2012, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Boise.

The case was investigated by the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General.