Mail Carrier Rights His Wrong

A mail carrier hoped an act of goodwill would make Guy Blancato's family's holiday a little easier. He thought he was letting a neighbor accept a package for Blancato's family to save them a trip to the post office. Instead, a thief wrongfully signed for and kept a package, and suddenly a kind-hearted move landed a carrier in some trouble.

On Friday, that carrier decided to take his original act of goodwill one step further.

"He gave a check to the family for $500, so that the family's children are sure to have gifts on Christmas morning," said Anita Petrella, postmaster at the Steubenville post office.

The United States Postal Service is in the business of delivery, and when a Steubenville family's package missed the mark, a kind-hearted carrier wanted to make up for his mistake.

That carrier doesn't want to make a big deal of it, he doesn't even want his name to be used.

"He's a very good carrier. He comes to work every day, never misses. He's been on that route for a long time, and he just wanted to make sure the kids had Christmas," said Petrella.

She isn't happy about a holiday delivery gone bad. And she says somebody will pay for stealing the mail.

"The postal inspectors are inspecting. The city of Steubenville police are investigating, and by the time the investigation is done I'm sure the inspection service will have somebody that took that package," said Petrella.

Petrella told NEWS9 this could be a case of mail fraud, which is a felony offense.

Individuals convicted of mail fraud could face a sentence of up to five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.

That investigation is now in the hands of the postal service.

For Guy Blancato and his family, they just wanted resolution and today it came.

"I called Mr. Blancato. He came down. I gave him the check, and they were extremely happy with the situation and the way it ended, so it's a good Christmas story," said Petrella.

The $500 check given to the family was out of the mail carrier's personal account. He wrote it in hopes the family could forgive his error, and have a nice Christmas.