Investigative News Releases

Working with our Law Enforcement Partners

Our special agents investigate nationwide internal crimes and fraud committed by postal employees and contractors as well as postal employee misconduct. We work with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and local prosecutors across the country to prosecute these crimes.

In some instances, we uncover much larger criminal activity being carried out by multiple individuals and organizations. In many of these cases, we partner with other federal and local law enforcement agencies to identify and hold responsible those who take advantage of the public’s trust in our postal system.

Below are links to the most recent news releases about our work.

Former U.S. Postal Service Employee Sentenced to Federal Prison for His Involvement in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

Date Released: 05/05/2025

Category: Narcotics

MONROE, La. – Willie Shanderek Shavon Woodard, 23, of Monroe, Louisiana, has been sentenced for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy, announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. Woodard, a former U.S. Postal Service employee, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty to 108 months (9 years) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.

Multiple Defendants Sentenced as Part of Crackdown on Cyber-Enabled Check Fraud

Date Released: 04/29/2025

Category: Financial Fraud

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Six defendants who were part of a conspiracy to sell stolen checks and bank login information have been sentenced, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona. The defendants were sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala and included the administrators of multiple scam Telegram channels, a former U.S. Postal employee who received bribes to steal checks from the mail, and a credit union employee who misappropriated customer account information.

Postal carrier sentenced to two years in prison for stealing mail

Date Released: 04/25/2025

Category: Internal Mail Theft

NORFOLK, Va. – A Hampton woman was sentenced yesterday to two years in prison for mail theft. According to court documents, Kiesha L. Brown, 32, worked for the U.S. Postal Service as a city carrier assistant at the LC Page Post Office in Norfolk. Beginning in June 2023, the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General (OIG) began receiving complaints regarding mail theft and check fraud from customers utilizing the LC Page Postal Station.

Four St. Louis Area Residents Admit Committing Bank Fraud with Checks Stolen from the Mail

Date Released: 04/16/2025

Category: Internal Mail Theft

ST. LOUIS – Four people, including a former U.S. Postal Service employee, have pleaded guilty to federal charges and admitted to involvement in a conspiracy that stole checks from the mail to commit bank fraud. Johnathan Barnett, 29, of University City, was sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to 80 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp, who also ordered him to pay restitution of $44,135.

Muskegon Cocaine Dealer Sentenced to 32 Years in Prison

Date Released: 04/14/2025