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 Local Union Vice President Sentenced to Two Years for Overtime Kickback Scheme

Date Released: 04/15/2022

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Joseph Whitbeck, 56, of Tamaqua, PA, was sentenced to two years in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $50,000 fine by United States District Court Judge Edward G. Smith for devising a scheme to defraud fellow union members out of rightfully earned overtime compensation. In November 2021, the defendant pleaded guilty to multiple charges of wire fraud and honest services wire fraud. While...

Postal Service Letter Carrier Pleads Guilty to Stealing Mail

Date Released: 04/14/2022

NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that Javonte Richard, age 29, of New Orleans, Louisiana, has pleaded guilty to Theft of Mail by a Postal Service employee in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1709. According to court documents, the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General (“USPS-OIG”) received complaints from the public concerning missing parcels received by the Johnson Post Office in Metairie, that were later determined to be entrusted to...

Two Marketers Sentenced for Engaging in an Illegal Health Care Kickback Scheme

Date Released: 04/14/2022

Two men were sentenced in federal court Wednesday for helping orchestrate a scheme where physicians received kickback payments in exchange for writing and referring expensive compounded drug prescriptions to OK Compounding, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. Johnathon Yates Boyd III, 50, of Katy, Texas, was sentenced to 12 months of probation and ordered to pay $391,475.41 in restitution. Bryan Fred Woodson, 61, of Beach City, Texas, was sentenced to 12 months of probation and ordered to pay...

Logan County Woman Pleads Guilty to U.S. Post Office Embezzlement

Date Released: 04/13/2022

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Logan County woman pleaded guilty today to misappropriation of postal funds. According to court documents and statements made in court, Brittany Ellis, 31, of Blair, was a former employee of the United States Postal Service who worked at the Blair Post Office in Logan County. Ellis admitted to taking approximately $4,486.45 in proceeds from the sale of money orders between October 11, 2018, and December 7, 2018, which came into her possession in the execution of her...

Former USPS Employee in Chicago Charged with Stealing Stimulus Checks From the Mail

Date Released: 04/12/2022

CHICAGO — A former U.S. Postal Service employee in Chicago has been indicted on federal charges for allegedly stealing government stimulus checks from the mail. Olivia L. Bryant, 33, of Chicago, is charged with three counts of theft from the U.S. mail. Bryant pleaded not guilty to the charges during her arraignment Monday in federal court in Chicago. A status hearing is set for May 13, 2022, at 1:00 p.m., before U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey. The indictment was announced by John R...