TWO MEN PLEAD GUILTY TO POSTAL ROBBERIES
BOSTON, Mass. - Two men plead guilty in connection with the robbery of a United States Postal mail truck on January 29, 2010 and the attempted robbery of a second truck on March 12, 2010 changed their pleas to guilty today.
WILLIAM MARK CATALDO, 47, of Chelsea, pleaded guilty to a five-count indictment which included two counts of conspiracy to rob federal property; robbery of federal property; attempted Hobbs Act robbery; and being a felon in possession of firearms. LAWRENCE BARTONE, 48, of Winthrop, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to rob federal property; robbery of federal property; and attempted Hobbs Act robbery.
CATALDO and BARTONE admitted during the hearing today that on January 29, 2010, along with an unknown accomplice, they robbed a Postal mail truck driver while he was at a Post Office loading dock. CATALDO and the unknown co-conspirator threatened the driver with a dangerous weapon and ordered the driver to the ground. They then took cash and other items and fled in a vehicle driven by BARTONE.
In the ensuing weeks, CATALDO and BARTONE planned a second robbery of a mail truck at the Charlestown Post Office. Postal Inspectors, along with state and local police, arrested CATALDO, BARTONE and the third defendant before they could complete a second robbery on March 12, 2010. Just prior to their arrest, the defendants were seen conducting counter-surveillance in the area of two post offices and were observed “casing” the Charlestown Post Office. In the course of the arrest, ski masks and dangerous weapons were recovered.
Sentencing has been set for July 12, 2011. CATALDO faces up to 25 years of imprisonment, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine on each of the conspiracy and robbery counts. CATALDO also faces up to 20 years of imprisonment, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine on the Hobbs Act count; he also faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years of imprisonment on the felon-in-possession count. BARTONE faces up to 25 years of imprisonment, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine on the conspiracy and robbery counts; BARTONE also faces up to 20 years of imprisonment, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine on the Hobbs Act count.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Robert Bethel, Inspector in Charge of the United States Postal Inspection Service made the announcement today. The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service. The Massachusetts State Police, Boston Police and Chelsea Police also assisted in the arrest. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Kanwit of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.
