OIG OPERATING STATUS

DUE TO A LAPSE IN GOVERNMENT FUNDING, ALL NON-EXCEPTED OIG EMPLOYEES ARE FURLOUGHED AND MUST CEASE ALL OIG WORK-RELATED ACTIVITIES.

This website will not be monitored or updated until full operations resume.
Your interest in the efficiency of Postal Service programs is important to us. Our Hotline remains operational, and you may still submit your concern and it will be reviewed.

You may also submit FOIA requests, however we cannot respond until the government reopens.

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.

Woman Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Seven-Year Public Assistance Fraud Scheme

Date Released: 11/17/2020

Seattle –A 40-year-old Tacoma resident was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 27 months in prison for wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and embezzlement of mail by a postal employee. Iliganoa Theresa Lauofo illegally collected more than $276,000 over the course of a fraud scheme that began in 2011 and continued until 2018. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones noted, “There are large families across this country who have no source of income and...

Former USPS Carrier Sentenced to Prison for Stealing, Selling Meth & Marijuana in Mail Packages

Date Released: 11/13/2020

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A former United States Postal Carrier was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 24 months in prison for stealing mail parcels that contained narcotics and then selling those narcotics in his neighborhood. Ricky Lee Harris Germany, 33, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in September 2019 to one count of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and a detectable amount of marijuana. According to court documents, Germany had been employed...

Former CEO Sentenced to Jail in Connection with Drug Safety Claims

Date Released: 10/22/2020

ABINGDON, VIRGINIA – Shaun Thaxter, the former chief executive officer of Indivior PLC, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Abingdon to 6 months in federal prison. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $100,000 and forfeit $500,000. Thaxter pleaded guilty to a one-count misdemeanor information on June 30, 2020 for his role in causing the introduction into interstate commerce of misbranded shipments of the opioid drug Suboxone Film, a violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act...

Former Postal Worker Sentenced for Stealing Over 400 Mobile Phones from the Mail

Date Released: 10/14/2020

PORTLAND, Ore.—A former U.S. Postal Service employee was sentenced to federal prison today for stealing mobile phones out of packages at the Portland postal sorting facility, announced U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams. Rico Alvarez, 24, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. “It is imperative that the community has confidence and trust in the integrity of the U.S. Postal Service” said United States Attorney Billy J. Williams “Thanks to the...

Physical Therapy Providers Settle Civil Healthcare Fraud Allegations

Date Released: 10/02/2020

Williamsburg Physical Therapy, P.C. and Euro Physical Therapy, P.C. have agreed to pay the United States and the State of New York $4 million to resolve civil allegations that they falsely billed Medicare, Medicaid, the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act Program (FECA) and the Federal Employees’ Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) for physical therapy services from 2008 to 2018. The settlement also resolves claims against the owners of the two physical therapy practices, Alex Klurfeld and Diana...