Man Convicted Of Mail-Bombing Family

A man was convicted Friday in a wave of mail bombings that targeted his girlfriend’s family and left five people dead, all within an hour.

A federal jury took just three hours to convict 54-year-old Michael Stevens of all 16 charges, including sending explosives with intent to kill.

Prosecutors said Stevens plotted at least six months in 1993 to wipe out Brenda Chevere’s relatives. Stevens believed Chevere’s family was trying to break up their relationship, prosecutors said.

Six shrapnel-encased booby-trap bombs were delivered by mail, private courier and taxi to Chevere’s relatives and four exploded.

Chevere’s mother, sister, stepfather and two bystanders were killed in Rochester and the Buffalo region the evening of Dec. 28, 1993. Three other people were injured, two seriously.

Sentencing was set for June 16. The jury recommended life in prison without parole.