Police: Postman hoarded 40,000 pieces of mail

NEW YORK, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- A New York mail carrier accused of hoarding more than 40,000 pieces of undelivered mail blamed depression and alcoholism for his behavior.

Authorities said Joseph Brucato, 67, admitted to keeping more than 2,500 pounds of mail, which dates back to 2005, and he told the court during his Wednesday arraignment his alcoholism and depression were to blame for his behavior.

Landlord Bruno Honovic told the New York Post it took a group of five postal workers about five hours to clear all of the undelivered envelopes out of Brucato's apartment.

Magistrate Vera Scanlon released Brucato on his own recognizance and ordered him to "abstain from excessive alcohol consumption" as a condition of his release.

Brucato, who started with the U.S. Postal Service in 2001, has been suspended with pay pending the outcome of the case. He could face up to five years in prison.

A representative for the Postal Service said mail carriers will attempt to deliver the items recovered from Brucato's home, vehicle and locker.