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 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...

Meriden Man Indicted for Trafficking Fentanyl

Date Released: 06/14/2022

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment today charging Gerardo Nunez-Irizarry, also known as “Indio,” 43, of Meriden, with possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. If convicted of the charge, Nunez-Irizarry faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five...

Mexican Citizen Pleads Guilty to Being Part of Cross Country Cocaine Trafficking Ring

Date Released: 06/09/2022

PITTSBURGH, PA – A Mexican citizen living in Tucson, AZ, pleaded guilty in federal court to a violation of the federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today. Ramon S. Araiza-Vega, 29, formerly of Tucson, AZ, pleaded guilty to an Indictment charging him, and 26 other codefendants, with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine before United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy. In connection with the guilty...