Investigative News Releases

David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL MIHALKO, 42, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 18 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for trafficking methamphetamine.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Dominique Dunlap, 30, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 70 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release today for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and possession of stolen mail, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to the prison sentence, Dunlap was ordered to pay $1,650,921.70 as restitution.

CHICAGO — A United States Postal Service employee has been indicted on federal fraud charges for allegedly collecting augmented workers’ compensation benefits to which she was not entitled. In 2012, GRACIELA VENEGAS began receiving workers’ compensation benefits for an injury she sustained in the performance of her Postal Service duties. Venegas claimed her spouse as a dependent, which entitled her to receive augmented benefits.

Jacksonville, Florida – Delvenia Renee Mitchell has pleaded guilty to theft of government of property, over $1,000. According to court documents, in 2023, Mitchell worked as a postal carrier for the United States Postal Service (USPS). Investigation by the USPS – Office of Inspector General determined that Mitchell, using her assigned USPS gas card, made multiple gas purchases in Jacksonville and elsewhere that were outside of her delivery area.

ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Tuesday sentenced a man who committed bank fraud for years with checks stolen from the mail to 72 months in prison. Judge Pitlyk also ordered Terron T. Brown, 23, to repay $51,932 to victims. Brown pleaded guilty in August to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of bank fraud.