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.

Essex County Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Steal Mail and Commit Bank Fraud

Date Released: 02/14/2022

NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 48 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to steal check books and credit cards from the mail, deposit fraudulent checks, including pandemic relief checks, and use stolen credit cards without authorization, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Jeffrey Bennett, 27, of Irvington, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton to an information charging him...

Former Executive Convicted of Rigging Bids and Defrauding North Carolina Dept. of Transportation

Date Released: 02/01/2022

A former executive of Contech Engineered Solutions LLC was convicted today in New Bern, North Carolina, for his participation in bid-rigging and fraud schemes targeting the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). Following a week-long trial in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, a jury convicted Brent Brewbaker, a former Contech executive, for participating in conspiracies to rig bids and submit false certifications of non-collusion for more than 300...

Former U.S. Postal Service Employee Admits Stealing Gift Cards from Mail

Date Released: 01/26/2022

MISSOULA — A Missoula man today admitted to a charge accusing him of stealing and cashing gift cards from a birthday card while he worked for the U.S. Postal Service, U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said. Lassana Diaby, 40, pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with theft of mail by officer or employee. Diaby faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. In court documents, the government alleged that on March 26, 2021, a U.S. Postal Service...

Man Sentenced for Attempted Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute

Date Released: 01/21/2022

ABINGDON, Va. – A Marion, Virginia, man was sentenced this week to 36 months in prison for attempted possession with the intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl. Anthony Peter Arrindell, 20, ordered illegal fentanyl pills through the mail. Although they resembled pharmaceutical-grade oxycodone-hydrochloride pills, the pills that were mailed to Arrindell were inconsistent in size, shape, and color, indicating that they were counterfeit pills. Pills of this type are sometimes referred...

Former Acting IG for U.S. Department of Homeland Security Pleads Guilty to Fraud Scheme

Date Released: 01/14/2022

A former Acting Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG) pleaded guilty today to federal charges stemming from the theft of proprietary software and sensitive databases from the U.S. government. According to court documents, Charles K. Edwards, 61, of Sandy Spring, Maryland, executed a scheme to steal confidential and proprietary software from the government. Edwards worked for DHS-OIG from February 2008 until December 2013, including...