11th Cir. Pattern Jury Instr. (Criminal) O65

18 U.S.C. § 1702

It’s a Federal crime for anyone to obstruct the delivery of mail by taking or

removing it from the United States mail.

The Defendant can be found guilty of this crime only if all the following

facts are proved beyond a reasonable doubt:

(1) the Defendant knowingly took mail [out of a post- office] [out of

an authorized depository for mail matter] [from a letter or mail

carrier] [that had been in the custody of any letter or mail carrier]

before it was delivered to the person to whom it was addressed;

and

(2) the Defendant acted knowingly and intended to obstruct delivery.

Mail is in the United States mail if it’s in a post-office, in an authorized

depository, with a mail carrier, or if it has been in the custody of a mail carrier.

A private mail box or receptacle is an “authorized depository for mail

matter.” Mail hasn’t been delivered until it has been taken from the depository by

the addressee or someone acting for the addressee.

To “obstruct delivery” is to take mail to prevent it from be ing delivered to

the addressee.