BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – A former postal carrier admitted Wednesday he threw out mail that had become disorganized, rather than try to deliver it.

Daniel Brautlacht pleaded guilty to delay or destruction of mail in federal court. In March 2013, a resident on Davey Street in the City of Buffalo saw the 20-year-old throw 31 pieces of mail into a garbage can.

The Cheektowaga man would later tell investigators that the mail had become disorganized and he discarded it rather than re-order it. At the time, Brautlacht had been on the job less than two weeks.

When he is sentenced in July, he could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Postal carrier admits throwing out mail