Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing Van from New York Hospital, Burglarizing Connecticut Post Office

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LEON CLINEDINST, 37, formerly of Ocala, Florida, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to one count of burglary of a U.S. Post Office, and one count of interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle. 

According to court documents and statements made in court, on the morning of Saturday, January 25, 2020, Clinedinst was discharged from Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.  Shortly after his discharge, Clinedinst stole a hospital van from the Mount Sinai garage and then drove the van to the U.S. Post Office located at 317 West Avenue in Stamford.  He then entered the post office, which was closed at the time, through a mail chute.  After Clinedinst’s actions triggered the security alarm, a responding law enforcement officer observed Clinedinst exit the front entrance with a large rolling bin filled with unopened packages.  Clinedinst was detained, and a search of is person revealed several keys belonging to the post office.  A subsequent search of the post office revealed a second large rolling postal bin filled with packages, and damage to the video surveillance security system.

At sentencing, which is not yet scheduled, Clinedinst faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.

Clinedinst has been detained since January 25, 2020.

This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Stamford Police Department, and the New York City Police Department.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen.