New Britain Man Charged with Theft of Government Property

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Joshua W. McCallister, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, today announced that STEVEN KNOX, 45, of New Britain, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with theft of government property.

Knox appeared today via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson in Hartford and was released on a $100,000 bond.

As alleged in the complaint, 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.

The charge of theft of government property carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This investigation is being 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 Sarala V. Nagala.