GRAFTON, Ohio -- A senior prank lands a handful of students in trouble with federal authorities.
One student said, "I had no idea it was a federal offense." This weekend 19 seniors graduated from the Christian Community School located at 35716 Royalton Road in Grafton. Sunday night after graduation ceremonies, eight of them decided to pull a senior prank.
Students say they started planning the prank weeks in advance. One of them said, "It's always been a tradition. We just wanted to do something just for fun."
The seniors ordered 5,100 free, priority mail boxes from the U.S. Postal Service's online Web site. They stacked them floor to ceiling, filling the entire hallway of the school's third floor.
Headmaster Richard Willis says they discovered the boxes Monday morning. When they attempted to return all of them to the local Post Office, Postal Inspectors began investigating. Postal Spokesman Victor Dubina says, "That's not what the boxes are meant for."
Printed on the bottom of the box is a warning that reads, "This packaging is property of the U.S. Postal Service, provided solely for use in sending priority mail. Misuse may be a violation of federal law."
Students were surprised to learn they could face federal charges. The headmaster released a statement saying, "We regret the poor choices some of our seniors made by pulling a prank involving U.S. Post Office boxes. We have, and will continue to return as many boxes as possible to the U.S. Post Office per their instructions and will comply with all of their directives."
Victor Dubina says, since all of the boxes are being returned, "We're taking it in good humor and the spirit in which it was done." The students will get a slap on the wrist when they meet with Postal Inspectors Wednesday morning.
Dubina warns, if anyone thinks of pulling a stunt like this again, "Read the bottom of the box!"
One student said, "I had no idea it was a federal offense." This weekend 19 seniors graduated from the Christian Community School located at 35716 Royalton Road in Grafton. Sunday night after graduation ceremonies, eight of them decided to pull a senior prank.
Students say they started planning the prank weeks in advance. One of them said, "It's always been a tradition. We just wanted to do something just for fun."
The seniors ordered 5,100 free, priority mail boxes from the U.S. Postal Service's online Web site. They stacked them floor to ceiling, filling the entire hallway of the school's third floor.
Headmaster Richard Willis says they discovered the boxes Monday morning. When they attempted to return all of them to the local Post Office, Postal Inspectors began investigating. Postal Spokesman Victor Dubina says, "That's not what the boxes are meant for."
Printed on the bottom of the box is a warning that reads, "This packaging is property of the U.S. Postal Service, provided solely for use in sending priority mail. Misuse may be a violation of federal law."
Students were surprised to learn they could face federal charges. The headmaster released a statement saying, "We regret the poor choices some of our seniors made by pulling a prank involving U.S. Post Office boxes. We have, and will continue to return as many boxes as possible to the U.S. Post Office per their instructions and will comply with all of their directives."
Victor Dubina says, since all of the boxes are being returned, "We're taking it in good humor and the spirit in which it was done." The students will get a slap on the wrist when they meet with Postal Inspectors Wednesday morning.
Dubina warns, if anyone thinks of pulling a stunt like this again, "Read the bottom of the box!"
