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Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Daniel B. Brubaker, the Inspector in Charge of the New York Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), announced today that ANTHONY ALFANO was arrested after he made a series of graphic and violent threats to kill U.S. Postal Service (“USPS”) employees and burn down U.S. post offices in Ossining, New York. ALFANO was arrested in Yorktown Heights, New York, this morning and is expected to appear this afternoon in White Plains federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Victoria Reznik.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The charges against the defendant underscore this Office’s unwavering commitment to swiftly collaborate with our law enforcement partners to neutralize threats against the U.S. mail system. Any individual who dares to cross the line and threaten our postal employees and facilities with violence and destruction will be stopped in their tracks, and we will ensure they are held accountable for their actions.”
USPIS Inspector in Charge Daniel B. Brubaker said: “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service does not take lightly any threats of violence against USPS employees. This behavior will never be tolerated, and we will work with our local and federal law enforcement partners to maintain a safe working environment for the postal employees we protect. That is our mission, and that is our unwavering commitment to the people we serve.”
As alleged in the Complaint:[1]
On Saturday, June 22, 2024, ANTHONY ALFANO was awaiting the delivery of a parcel that had been mailed out via USPS from Florida the evening before. According to ALFANO, the parcel contained cremated remains. In a series of phone calls with USPS call center representatives before the package was scheduled to arrive, ALFANO threatened to kill USPS employees and burn down U.S. post offices because he apparently believed the parcel was not going to arrive when he wanted it to. ALFANO’s threats included the following:
Underscoring his commitment to carry out his threats, ALFANO said several times, “I don’t make threats, I make promises.” He also expressly swore to carry out his threats and said, “I really don’t care if I go to jail or not.”
On Monday, June 24, 2024, ALFANO received his parcel on the next business day after it had been mailed out on the Friday before.
ALFANO has a history of encounters with law enforcement because of prior threats he has made against others, including local police officers, delivery persons, and customer service representatives.
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ANTHONY ALFANO, 46, of Ossining, New York, is charged with threatening interstate communications, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and willfully making a threat involving fire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the USPIS in investigating the threats charged in the Complaint and undertaking security measures to protect USPS employees and facilities. Mr. Williams also thanked the Village of Ossining Police Department and City of Peekskill Police Department for their assistance in this case.
This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Reyhan Watson is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Nicholas Biase, Lauren Scarff, Shelby Wratchford
(212) 637-2600