On April 30, 2025, Benjamin L. Joos of Tigerton, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison. This sentencing follows an incident involving Joos firing a shotgun at a U.S. Postal Carrier, injuring her and damaging her vehicle. The announcement was made by Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
The court records reveal that the assault occurred on September 24, 2024, at around 3:00 p.m., as the postal worker was delivering mail. The employee reported hearing their passenger side window shatter and experiencing pain in her arms. She realized Joos, aged 44, was holding a shotgun and was yelling at her to "get away from my box" and "leave my mail alone." The victim immediately left the scene and alerted law enforcement. Joos later admitted to having consumed “4 to 5 whisky and cokes” before the incident, and tests showed his blood alcohol content was 0.178 g/100ml, significantly above the legal intoxication limit.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge William C. Griesbach acknowledged Joos’s clean criminal record, active community involvement, and favorable work background. However, the judge concluded that the offense's seriousness and its impact on the victim necessitated imprisonment. In addition to the prison term, Joos will undergo three years of supervised release and pay over $10,000 in restitution to the victim.
The investigation into the case was a cooperative effort between the Shawano County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble leading the prosecution.
