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 Postal Employee Sentenced for Unlawfully Opening the Mail

Date Released: 07/07/2022

NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Tyrone Dilling, age 27, of New Orleans, Louisiana was sentenced today by the Honorable Barry W. Ashe, District Court Judge, Eastern District of Louisiana, to a two-year term of probation after pleading guilty to unlawfully opening the mail he was entrusted to deliver. According to documents filed in federal court, Dilling was employed by the United States Postal Service as a letter carrier in New Orleans. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the...

More Charges Filed in Fraud and Kickback Scheme

Date Released: 06/27/2022

McALLEN, Texas ‐ A 56-year-old woman has been taken into custody on charges related to a healthcare fraud and kickback scheme, announced Jennifer B. Lowery. Nora Alaniz, South Padre Island, is set to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker at 10 a.m. today. Previously charged was Dr. Tajul Shams Chowdhury, 72, McAllen. He will again appear on the charges in the superseding indictment in the near future. The 16-count superseding indictment returned June 21 charges...

Former Postal Employee Charged With Embezzling the Mail

Date Released: 06/22/2022

NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Patrick Ezell Wilson, age 51, of Bogalusa, Louisiana was charged on June 21, 2022 with embezzling the mail in a bill of information filed today in the Eastern District of Louisiana. According to documents filed in federal court, Patrick Ezell was employed by the United States Postal Service as a letter carrier in Bogalusa when he was apprehended stealing mail he was entrusted to handle for the Postal Service. U.S. Attorney Evans...

Postal Worker Charged with Theft of Mail Matter

Date Released: 06/21/2022

PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal mail theft laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today. The one-count Indictment named James Ancell, age 29, of the City’s Brighton Heights neighborhood, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, on November 25, 2021, Ancell, a United States Postal Service employee, did embezzle a letter, postal card, package, mail, or any article...

Businessman Sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud in Connection with Overcharging USPS

Date Released: 06/15/2022

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Joseph Liberto, age 47, of New Windsor, Maryland, to 18 months in federal prison, followed by 12 months of home detention, and three years of supervised release, for a wire fraud conspiracy in connection with his company’s contract to perform repairs at U.S. Postal Service (USPS) facilities. Judge Bennett also ordered Liberto to pay restitution of $941,629.17 and to pay a fine of $100,000. Judge Bennett further ordered that...