Man Whose Mail Bombs Killed 5 Is Sentenced to 7 Life Terms

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A man who investigators say was bent on wiping out his girlfriend’s family got seven life sentences Tuesday for a wave of mail-bombings that killed five people within an hour.

“I want to make sure that you never set foot in a free society again. You are an evil person,” U.S. District Judge Michael Telesca told Michael Stevens, 54. Four of the life sentences must be served consecutively.

Stevens was convicted March 31 on charges of conspiracy and transporting explosives with intent to kill, injure and intimidate and to damage property.

He was accused of sending six booby-trapped parcels by mail, private courier and taxi to Brenda Chevere’s relatives across Upstate New York in 1993.

Four of the bombs exploded, one failed to detonate and another was intercepted by police.

Chevere’s mother, sister and stepfather were killed in Rochester and the Buffalo area. Two bystanders also were killed, and three people were injured.

Stevens believed Chevere’s family was trying to break up their relationship, and he was afraid she would leave with their 2-year-old son, prosecutors said.